Pickering Town's fixture backlog worsened again last night with the abandonment of their North Riding Senior Cup clash with Northallerton.

The tie at the Recreation Ground had been put back several times so that the Pikes could play their FA Carlsberg Vase match at Marske United, which they eventually lost 2-1 after seven postponements.

However, last night's stalemate - the game was abandoned at half-time due to increased waterlogging after a first-half deluge - means Pickering have yet another game to catch up on, with the tie provisionally being put back to next Tuesday, December 19 (kick off 7.45pm).

Boss Jimmy Reid said: "It was another game we had wanted to get out of the way, but puddles were growing on the pitch, the ball was holding up and it even began to hailstone."

The game had been all-square at 1-1 when York referee Ian Fox decided to call an end to proceedings, initially taking the players off for five minutes before deeming the deteriorating pitch unplayable. Dead-ball specialist Thomas Reid had given Pickering the lead with a free-kick, but the Northern League outfit equalised on the half-hour.

Meanwhile, Pickering Town Under-19s Northern Under-19 Alliance League Cup clash with Eccleshill United, itself a victim of the weather ten times, has been put back again. The tie had been rescheduled for tonight, but again has been postponed because of waterlogging. The club now hope to play the match on Sunday (kick off 2pm).