Areas of the Priestfield pitch were frozen

Gillingham’s game against Hereford United has been called off after part of the Priestfield pitch froze overnight.

The decision was made early to avoid the Bulls, who were due to travel on Friday, having to make a wasted journey.

It comes despite the club using covers on the pitch all week to prevent the ground freezing, with Gills groundsman John Plummer quoted on Thursday as saying the pitch was playable.

Although the whole playing surface was kept under wraps, an area of the pitch around one of the goalmouths was deemed to be unplayable by local assessor Paul Alcock. With temperatures not set to rise much above freezing in the 24 hours ahead of the game, it was unlikely to improve before kick-off.

The news is a blow to Andy Hessenthaler’s side, who were desperate to play in the hope of ending a torrid sequence of four defeats in five league games against a side in League Two’s bottom four.

Their next game will be away to play-off rivals Burton Albion, on Saturday, February 11.

Photo by ADY KERRY