HIGH winds brought a halt to the Motormen's momentum on Saturday as their league clash against Spennymoor was abandoned after 36 minutes due to 'dangerous conditions.'
Blustery gales that engulfed the country were particularly strong at Rivacre Park and after just over half-an-hour of struggling against the elements, referee Andy Pownall called time on proceedings which were goalless.
The reason for the match official's decision was that he was concerned for the safety of the players and his assistants due to the large amount of sand that was blowing in their eyes from the playing surface.
Groundsman Brian Paisey said: 'Although we're very proud of our pitch as it's one of the best in Non-League football, it is a sand-based playing surface and there is quite a lot of sand on it at this time of the year.'
The afternoon had been something of a farce from the start with the visitors arriving late following their long journey from County Durham.
Not only had the strong winds forced the Spennymoor coach to drive slowly on the motorway, the driver had taken a wrong turning on leaving the M53 and had headed towards Backford.
On realising that he was now taking the players on a potential day trip to Chester Zoo, the muddled navigator finally got the team on track for Rivacre Park, but the mix-up ensured that kickoff was delayed until 3.15pm.
With the wind blowing towards the Vauxhall goal, it was unsurprising Spennymoor fashioned the more clear-cut chances in what action did take place. But there was no real pattern of play with both sides struggling just to keep the ball on the pitch.
Vauxhall boss Owen Brown said: 'It was the best decision considering the wind. With the form we're in, we'd have hoped to have gone ahead early on against Spennymoor in good conditions.
'Although our players might have had the advantage in the second half with the wind in their favour, we're still a footballing team and at our best when we've got the ball on the deck.' Vauxhall: Dittmar, Spellman, McDermott, Robinson, Roberts, Porter, Nesbitt, Lawton, Fearns, Tomlinson, Cumiskey.
