One of the advantages of having a 3G pitch is matches rarely get called off by the weather.

One of the disadvantages is that matches rarely get called off by the weather...

While other teams sat out a freezing Saturday, Alton’s match against Cobham went ahead – and they slipped to a 1-0 defeat after conceding a late goal.

“It was disappointing not to pick up any points, especially at home,” said manager Kevin Adair. “We were light in a couple of areas but that seems to be par for the course at the moment – we get three back and then find three or four are out.”

Weather permitting, the Brewers will be playing on another artificial surface this weekend when they travel to play Jersey Bulls.

“They have a 3G pitch but Horley last weekend were struggling to get back because an airport was closed because of the weather, and Saturday is scheduled to be cold again,” said Adair.

“We are preparing as if it will go ahead and booking the flights – we are flying out and back in a day, so we’re home in time to watch the World Cup Final, which isn’t ideal.

“We will have to leave at 5am or 6am to get there, and it would have been nice to have stayed the night to have a few beers afterwards, but it’s not to be this time around.

“They are a good side and get a good crowd so we are looking forward to it.

“There won’t be many people outside of our club expecting us to get anything but we’ll be looking to get a positive result and we’ll set up in a way to try to win the game.

“But we will have to be close to our best to get anything and hopefully they won’t be.

“In the past seven games we have lost only two, and conceded only five goals – and two of those against a Step 3 side. Looking at the bigger picture, it has been pretty good – it has been a good period for us.

“We were a bit pedestrian at times against Cobham but we controlled periods of the game too and created some half-chances.

“They put their foot on the gas with about 20 minutes to go, although we have been defensively solid of late so I wasn’t unduly concerned that they would score.

“But they put together a good move with about five minutes to go, a neat one-two and slipped in their striker to score – it was a good goal.”