EASTLEIGH manager Ben Strevens admitted wishing his side’s match against second-from-bottom Chorley was postponed after all.

The Spitfires hosted Chorley on the back of successive wins and volunteers were at the Silverlake Stadium at 4am on Saturday morning to ensure their latest National League match went ahead.

But conditions made it difficult to break down a resolute Chorley.

Speaking to Radio Solent, Strevens said: “My honest opinion is we probably shouldn’t have got it on.

“I can’t help the volunteers enough for their effort and commitment because we wanted it on and I asked them to make sure it went ahead.

“Two or three years ago this game would never have been on so it was a great effort after the rain we had in the last 48 hours.

“But in hindsight it was probably the wrong decision.

“We had a great crowd but it was a frustrating game for the boys to play in.

“Conditions certainly didn’t help, make for a great spectacle. In the second half the ball was holding up and they had a lot of men behind the ball.

“But maybe certain parts of the way we played didn’t help either.

“It was a hard game of football and credit to Chorley, they came to do a job and did it.

“But we weren’t at our best in key moments. It was frustrating for me and the people watching.

“Hopefully we didn’t do the pitch too much damage.”

Saints loanee Marcus Barnes had an early header saved, hit the woodwork and shot narrowly wide.

Captain Danny Hollands sent a looping header over the bar in the 84th minute and five minutes later had a bicycle kick disallowed for offside.

But there were few other chances for Eastleigh as Chorley closed out a fourth successive goalless draw.

Eastleigh are away to Welling in the FA Cup on Saturday.