Referee Mark Halsey’s big come back at Accrington was ruined by the rain as the Barnet clash was postponed for the third time on Tuesday.

Bolton official Halsey was meant to be playing his first game back after treatment for throat cancer but instead he had to make the unwanted decision of calling the game off.

"I really wanted to play the game and John Coleman might not invite me back as he will say I am a jinx!" said the referee.

"But I had to let my head rule my heart and be fair on the players and the spectators. I am gutted though as everyone wanted to play."

A sudden downpour at 6pm put paid to the game and manager Coleman said the decision was the right one: "I wanted to shoot into the shallow end," he joked as the rain swamped the pitch.

"But it’s one of those things. We have had problems with the pitch and drainage this season and I think we have had more games called off this season than in the previous six seasons. It’s an ongoing problem which we need to sort out but it hasn’t been helped by the freak weather."

It is around nine first team matches which have been lost to the weather along with Burnley’s reserve team games - that’s five with a match against Blackburn last night also under threat.

This is despite work being done on the pitch and groundsman Martyn Cook admits he must had one of the hardest jobs in football.

"There was no problem at around five o’ clock on Tuesday and then the heavens opened and despite all the work we had done on it during the day, there wasn’t a chance.

"We must had around 10 or 12 games called off this season and it always seems to happen on a Tuesday night that there is a downpour.

"We have a drainage system but any groundsman wouldn’t have got the game on with the rain.

"It is just a shame as both teams wanted to play the game and it’s the third time against Barnet - I think they just should agree a draw now as the fixture seems to be cursed!"

Bees boss Ian Hendon, whose players had travelled to Accrington for the fourth time this season - including an FA¿Cup visit - admitted: "There is nothing anyone can do. It is the right decision and we will just have to come back again. We are used to this journey now!"