COLCHESTER United's game with promotion-chasing Stockport County scheduled for this afternoon has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Referee Scott Oldham carried out a pitch inspection at the JobServe Community Stadium at 9am and concluded that the surface was unplayable, for the League Two clash.

A new date for the U's game with Stockport will now have to be arranged.

 

It is the second Colchester home fixture in the space of three weeks to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, following their game with Grimsby Town being called off on February 13.

Colchester currently lie five points above the relegation zone, with 12 games remaining.

Their next game is next weekend when they travel to play Barrow, whose game at Crawley Town was also postponed yesterday due to a waterlogged pitch.

Referee Scott Oldham told Col U TV: "The pitch is very wet, very soft in places and certainly a risk for the players which is not what we want at all.

"Player safety is paramount and is the first thing we look at and unfortunately, it ticked enough boxes today for it to be unplayable.

"You feel for the supporters because it's their game, it's their entertainment.

"We wanted to try and put a game on for them and if we can get the game on, we'll always try to do so but unfortunately, not on this occasion."