AFTER the wait and nervous tension of the build up, the eagerly awaited FA Carlsberg Vase 4th round tie between Truro City and Newcastle Benfield ended in disappointment as the game finally fell victim to the weather.

For those who have followed City's fortunes this season, the decision would not have come as a surprise given the problems that club has experienced with the newly-laid surface.

However, on this occasion there was much more to the decision than normal because Benfield were leaving early on Friday morning to travel to Cornwall. The last thing anyone wanted was for the Arngrove Northern League side to travel all the way down to Treyew Road only to find that it had been a wasted trip and expensive trip.

The decision to call off the game was made at 8.15 am on Monday when Falmouth referee Mark Philpott was called in to assess the condition of the pitch. With what he saw and taking into account the forecast for the Saturday he decided that the tie should be put back a week.

City director of football, Chris Webb, said it was a tough decision, but felt that it was the right one.

"We've worked extremely hard on the ground for several weeks now," said Webb. "It is improving, it is definitely getting better, but there are still some areas which are holding water.

"With Newcastle having to travel so far we felt it was only fair to them that any doubt about the game going ahead should be weighted in their advantage. If it did rain heavily on Saturday, as forecasted, we would only have a few miles to go home whereas they have to go to the other end of the country."

City are hoping that the weather will be a little kinder to them this week, but Webb is leaving nothing to chance.

"We now have another week to sort out some of the poorly draining areas on the ground, but if the weather forecast is for rain, then we may have to get some temporary covering over the pitch. It will be expensive, but that is something which we will have to look at."

City warmed up for the match by thumping Elmore 10-1 to go to the top of the Toolstation Western League first division and despite not playing on Saturday they still remain top. Their nearest rivals, Portishead United, did not play.

City can maintain their lofty position before their game with Benfield because they have a midweek game away to Sherborne. It is a game that they could have done without given the importance of the FA Vase, but you can't complain one week that you can't get a league game and then start turning them down the next. City therefore will have to get on with it and hope they don't pick up any serious injuries.

Of last week's players receiving treatment on the physio's table, Graham Power and Jake Ash have recovered, but Ian Gosling should be fit given the progress he has made.

"We are hoping that we can get through the midweek game without any injury worries," said Webb. "When you have such as an important game as this in the FA Vase you want all your squad fit and ready for action.

"A place in the last 16 is at stake and it would be a tremendous achievement if we could make it."

The ground, the opposition, and the kick off time is the same as last week. Fingers crossed, then, that on this occasion it goes ahead.

City from: D Stevenson, J Ash, G Power, T Smith, M Martin, J Routledge, J Broad, S Walker, K Wills, I Gosling, S Yetton, G Hooper, C Reski, A Watkins, R Pope, J Ludlam.