Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett worried after another postponement (From Harrow Times)

Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett worried after another postponement

10:50am Friday 29th January 2010 in

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Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett admits he has serious concerns about their run-in after Tuesday night's home game with Hastings United was postponed.

The Stones boss found out just over three hours before kick-off their pitch had been deemed too dangerous, with two soft patches near the halfway line, despite the weather being fine.

With more wintry weather likely, Bartlett is worried their fixture pile-up will derail their promotion hopes. The Stones face four games in eight days starting tomorrow at Canvey Island.

Bartlett said: "I'm absolutely gutted. It's been good weather but we know we have a problem with the drainage. That has put us under severe pressure with all the games we have.

"This could cause us a major problem going into the latter end of the season. We're already supposed to be playing next Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and we'll have to get used to that a lot.

"I don't think we have seen the worst of the weather yet so the groundsman is going to have to find a way to treat it."

Second-placed Hastings would have been a severe test but Bartlett claims they would have been at an advantage if the match had gone ahead.

He added: "Their main striker and midfielder wasn't fit to play on Tuesday so in terms of the timing, it would have been good for us."

Meanwhile, Bartlett has signed 19-year-old midfielder David King on a one-month loan from MK Dons.

Wealdstone were below par on Saturday as they battled to a 2-2 draw at Bognor Regis Town. Bartlett started with a 3-5-2 formation but altered the strategy after a poor first half.

James Gray marked his return to the side with the opener but they trailed 2-1 at the break. The visitors were grateful for an own goal which salvaged a point.

Bartlett said: "We tried to spark our own performance up because I don't think they have been good enough recently.

"We played three centre-backs to try and stifle them but it didn't work. I take full criticism for that but I did what I thought was right for the team.

"We dominated the last 20 minutes but if you had said to me at half time we would draw I would have bitten your hand off because we were very poor. The formation didn't work."