TOWN'S burning desire to mount a play-off charge was drenched in cold water as their clash with struggling Cheltenham was washed out.

Referee Andy Hall declared the pitch unplayable at 5.45pm, much to the irritation of manager Andy King and chief executive Mark Devlin.

Equipment to remove excess water had just arrived at the club, albeit an hour and a half late, and both men wanted time to see if the pitch could be dried out.

But Mr Hall decided it was pointless to even make an attempt and the match was called off.

King said: "The club wanted to try and remove the water but the referee was having none of it.

"It's frustrating because the lads were all geared to play.

"We were going in to the match on the back of a great win against QPR and a win would have seen us close the gap on the likes of Luton and Blackpool.

"I also know fans will probably be unhappy about what they might see as a late decision being made.

"Just as I was leaving the ground I spoke to a couple of supporters who had made the trip from Suffolk. Obviously people are going to be disappointed."

However, King said the rain had not relented and the last thing he wanted was a Wednesday night farce.

He said: "If the game had started and the conditions had continued to get worse then we could have ended up with a mockery.

"That's not something anyone would have wanted to see."

While the Town boss had been desperate for the game to go ahead he admitted there was something of a silver lining in the rain-swollen clouds above the County Ground.

He said: "Jon Beswetherick, Matty Hewlett, Danny Invincible and Andy Gurney were all touch and go.

"Had they played then the conditions would obviously have meant the risk of aggravating those injuries was greater.

"They now have an extra 48 hours to recover and will hopefully be available for the game at Northampton."

Devlin said: "Despite our best protestations, the referee was adamant that the game would not go ahead.

"We felt we should have been given the opportunity to try and clear the water.

"It's very frustrating for players, staff, supporters and it doesn't help the cash flow situation either."

Town were hoping this morning that the game could be rescheduled for next Wednesday (March 12). But that has yet to be confirmed.