WEYMOUTH have apologised to all parties after a late postponement of their Vanarama National League South clash with Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The Bob Lucas Stadium pitch passed a pitch inspection at 3pm this afternoon.

After assessing four separate weather forecasts, match officials were happy for the game to take place.

Weymouth players also reported favourably after taking to the pitch around two hours before kick-off.

However, a sudden deterioration in temperatures began to frost over the pitch and the match referee called off the game around an hour before kick-off.

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It is Weymouth's first home postponement since 2018 in the FA Trophy against Needham Market - a run of 110 games.

Speaking to Echosport, CEO and match sponsor Paul Maitland issued his apologies for the circumstances.

He said: "It's really unfortunate. I'd just apologise to everybody that's turned in, the supporters, playing staff, directors.

"I was here at 3pm when they were carrying out the pitch inspection and the referee could push his keys fully in the pitch. There were no issues anywhere.

"The sun came out and it was immaculate. At 5 o'clock it was still absolutely spot on, no problems.

"When he was here and did his inspection he looked at four different weather channels and none of them suggested it was going to go below freezing.

"It's dropped enough to put frost on the top. We had players out there coming back from injury and it's their view that it was better than Saturday when we played.

"Just an incredibly difficult set of circumstances. Our apologies to everyone that has turned in, they'll be refunded.

"We've had the sponsors in tonight as well, who've paid for an evening."

Maitland added that Weymouth had followed all protocols in line with National League rules.

"There was absolutely no way the game could've been called off this afternoon because the pitch was playable and the forecast didn't suggest it was going to be an issue," he said.

"No blame attached to the referee or anybody connected to us.

"We've followed the protocols in full dialogue with the National League and kept them abreast of the situation, and with Hampton as well.

"We've fallen short in the end to Mother Nature. We didn't have to try hard to pass a pitch inspection, Mother Nature did that for us.

"I'm sure we'll come under criticism but you cannot control the weather."