Strevens admits frustration after Eastleigh's clash with Hartlepool abandoned

The Spitfires manager, as well as his coaches, had helped club officials, ground staff and volunteers clear the pitch of surface water ahead of kick-off.

But the contest had to be abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch, with the game goalless.

Strevens told BBC Radio Solent: “It’s frustrating because everyone has worked so hard to get the game on – a real team effort with volunteers coming down.

“Ground staff have worked so hard then then you had the board members out on the pitch as well. All my coaching staff went out there on the pitch to try to get the game (going ahead).

“I’m really frustrated that it’s ended up weather succumbing and the game was called off.”

With heavy rain lashing down and the pitch becoming increasingly unplayable, the decision was taken not to start the second half.

Spitfires goalkeeper Joe McDonnell was given a scare in the eighth minute when a free-kick from his opposite number Henrich Ravas skidded on the surface and almost went in.

Hartlepool loanee Tyler Magloire did well to block a shot from Ben House shortly afterwards and Eastleigh striker Tyrone Barnett should have done better with a header from a free-kick in the 19th minute, putting his effort wide.

Ravas saved with his feet from Barnett after 31 minutes, but that was the last real opportunity as the first half ended in sodden conditions.

“Their manager was quite vocal at the end of the half and it was getting a little tricky in the last five minutes of the game,” added Strevens.

“The ball stopped running. People were trying to run with the ball and it was sticking a little bit – a couple of passes got held up in it.

“I thought for 40 minutes, as much as the rain was coming down the ball was moving quite well. It was just a deluge of rain that has come down in that period, in the last five minutes.”

The abandonment means Eastleigh are seventh in the table, with 11 points from their opening six games.