Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett says there was “no doubt” in his mind Tuesday’s Conference South clash at Hemel Hempstead should not have started and described the half which was played as ridiculous.

Goals from Moussa Diarra, James Potton and Jordan Parkes had Dean Brennan’s side in cruise control at the break, with Bartlett left fearing his side’s impressive 11-game unbeaten league run would be brought to an abrupt end by the Tudors.

Referee Wayne Porter took the decision to abandon the game at half time due to a frozen pitch.

Reflecting on the decision, Bartlett said: “There was no doubt in my mind that the game should not have started.

“You were crunching around the pitch and it was only going to colder. I did say to the linesman it was ridiculous.”

Bartlett continued: “They (Hemel Hempstead) adapted to the surface better and continued from Saturday when they scored six, but for 15 minutes after that I felt we were very much in the ascendency.

“My whole team talk at half time was about how if we got one back I fancied us getting back into the game.”

The Stones were without Carl Martin, Richard Jolly and Jefferson Louis through injury but Bartlett refused to blame the absence of the trio for a below-par first-half display.

He said: “Two of our management staff could not make it so our preparation was not the best. Despite the fact we said we know they start very well we found ourselves 2-0 down due to our inability to defend properly.”

Saturday saw the Stones extend their unbeaten run in the league with a 2-0 win over Hayes & Yeading United at Grosvenor Vale, courtesy of strikes from Matt Ball – his second in as many league games – and Louis, who was injured in the process of scoring.

And Bartlett paid tribute to the striker who had missed so spectacularly against the same side earlier in the week.

He enthused: “I was never worried about the miss, it was one of things.

“Last year Scott McGleish missed a couple of chances in the FA Trophy against Maidstone United and people said go and get a proven striker – you don’t get much more proven than Scott.

“Jefferson is big, strong, holds the ball up well and scores goals. Unfortunately he will be out for a couple of weeks now with his quad injury.”

The Stones return to action on Saturday when they host Weston-Super-Mare in the Conference South.

No date has yet been set for Wealdstone’s re-arranged clash with Hemel Hempstead Town.