WORCESTER City head to Tamworth on Sunday with their impressive Conference North record intact after the Boxing Day clash against Hednesford Town was abandoned amid atrocious conditions.

Carl Heeley’s side were heading for only their second defeat at Aggborough in 2014 when they trailed the Pitmen 3-0 with just 15 minutes remaining.

But, with the ball continually getting stuck on a saturated surface made worse by driving sleet and snow, referee Andy Hendley called the game off.

It was a controversial decision given the scoreline and that the official had opted to let the match continue into the second-half when conditions were already bordering on the farcical.

Consequently, City now visit The Lamb (3pm) protecting an eight-match unbeaten sequence in the league stretching back to September.

Assistant manager Matt Gardiner said: “The ball wasn’t rolling properly at the end of the first-half.

“Hednesford played the conditions better than us and were 3-0 up but it’s the referee’s decision.

“It wasn’t possible to move the ball and you don’t expect to have to play on pitches like that at our level.

“It was really difficult but the referee has made the call. We’ll have to see what happens now.”

It is thought the game, which was watched by 814 fans, will now be replayed.

Second-half efforts from Richard Batchelor and Glenn Walker, along with Graham Hutchison’s first-half own goal, looked to have handed the Pitmen the points.

Earlier in a scrappy encounter, Ellis Deeney’s stinging drive forced Dan Crane to parry the ball into the air and Mike Symons headed the rebound at the goalkeeper.

Former Worcester captain Tom Thorley produced a trademark free-kick midway through the first period but his effort dipped inches over the bar.

Another Thorley free-kick was almost dropped into his own net by Nathan Vaughan but the City keeper recovered to pounce on the ball.

Opposite number Crane then threw himself in the way of Symons’ strike.

But the visitors looked the more menacing and they took the lead in the 29th minute.

A ball into the box was flicked on by the head of Steve Diggin and Hutchison inadvertently diverted it past Vaughan.

Heeley’s side cranked up the pressure at the start of the second period with Jordan Murphy having an effort blocked and Crane saving from Sean Geddes.

But conditions continued to deteriorate with the ball continually getting bogged down on the saturated surface.

Hednesford doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute when Batchelor stuck out a boot to deflect Glenn Walker’s drive past Vaughan.

Then, 60 seconds later, Walker lashed a third beyond the keeper to leave City reeling before the referee’s intervention.

City: Vaughan, Weir, Jackman, Hutchison, Rowe, Gater, Nti, Deeney, Symons, Geddes, Murphy (Taylor 60). Subs not used: Wright, Dunkley, Thomas, Veiga.

Attendance: 814.