Checkatrade Trophy game postponed due to frozen pitch
Tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy Semi-Final against Yeovil Town has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
Local EFL Referee Rob Lewis attended the Montgomery Waters Meadow to undertake a pitch inspection at 10am this morning and after deliberations with both teams it was decided that the game shouldn’t go ahead.
With temperatures set to drop even lower this afternoon/evening it was felt that the game should be postponed for both player and fan safety.
The game has been rearranged for next Tuesday, 6th March, with a 7:45pm kick-off. Tickets bought for tonight’s game will still be valid and the game still be shown live on Sky Sports.
ShrewsWeb caught up with Town boss Paul Hurst after the pitch inspection to get his thoughts.
“I’m disappointed because I would have like to have played it”, said Hurst.
“It’s a game that’s been in the schedule and one that we’ve been looking forward too, but I think ultimately the right decision has been made.
“Some parts of the bottom end are firm and ultimately with all the forecasts I think the last thing anyone wants is for us to call it off at the last minute or, even worse, start the game and then have it called off.
“Player safety is massive and I don’t think we could guarantee that. Some parts are already really frosty and that’s when the pitch has been covered. I think both managers wanted the game on, but the sensible decision’s been made.
“The game’s now next Tuesday, so it’s not like we have to change too much. We’d held back a video that we show the players until today because there was a possibility of the game being called-off, so we will keep that in readiness for next week.
“Now we look ahead to the Peterborough game. It will be a challenging week in terms of preparation with the weather as it is for the rest of the week, but we will plan the best we can and prepare ready for a tough league game.”