Frozen pitch accounts for cup clash

Match officials ruled out the second round tie soon after noon, just over an hour and half before one of the biggest game's in the EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division club's 140-year history was due to kick off at 2pm.

A bumper crowd of more than 4,000 had been expected at the War Memorial Ground to see the Glassboys host the League One Cobblers for a place in the third round and the chance to play a Premier League giant. Both sides will now go into the hat for Monday's draw, the Glassboys for the first time in their history.

The disappointed Glassboys say there could yet be a silver lining to the postponement after the Football Association confirmed that the clubs would now meet on Tuesday week, December 13, with any replay pencilled in for the following Tuesday, December 20.

Depending on other results from the weekend, either the BBC or BT Sport could decide to broadcast the rearranged clash live, netting the club a £68,000 TV fee windfall from the FA.

Stourbridge secretary Clive Eades said: "Everybody is disappointed after all the work that has gone into our preparations but it is what it is and we've only been beaten by geography and a colder than expected night which saw a drop to minus 3 locally rather than the minus one predicted.

"Whatever happens now we've made history by going into the third round draw for the first time in our history and there could be another silver lining if the BBC or BT Sport decide to send their cameras after all."

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