The Mile End Stadium manager was desperate to see Friday’s game go ahead after having a strong squad at his disposal

Imrul Gazi was bitterly disappointed Sporting Bengal United’s Essex Senior League match at Woodford Town on Friday night was called off.

Freezing temperatures had hit all parts of England, let alone Essex, in the week leading up to the fixture at Goffs Lane.

Gazi was hoping the fixture would go ahead after the weather improved on Thursday and on the day of the game, but Woodford confirmed the pitch wasn’t playable and it meant another postponement occurred.

“Friday was probably the best day we had last week and I was frustrated because I was telling my chairman beforehand that it was arguably the strongest squad I have had since the start of the season,” said Bengal’s manager.

“I normally have more people available during the week and because it was a Friday, not a Saturday, I had a good team out and I was very confident of getting a win.

“All of the lads were excited and when we played Woodford Town earlier in the season we were missing a few and had a weak side out, so we wanted to try and make up for that 4-1 defeat, but it wasn’t to be.”

The Mile End Stadium manager will now try to make the most of the fact his team haven’t played for two weeks by the time they visit Wadham Lodge on Saturday.

Although there is no guarantee that fixture will go ahead, Bengal’s manager is looking for his players to finish 2017

Gazi added: “Before we played Tower Hamlets on December 9 (1-0 defeat), we had gone on a good mini unbeaten run of four matches after having two-and-a-half weeks off in November.

“Whenever we get time off it seems to suit us and during the break last month I cancelled all of our training and let everyone rest and us as a management team had a little bit of time off as well.

“It seemed to benefit us because we came back and were flying and then the Tower Hamlets result was a disappointing one to take, even if we did have make six changes to the team which beat Hackney Wick (3-1) the Saturday before.

“Looking ahead to this weekend, hopefully this latest break will suit us and we should have a strong 11 or 12 to pick the starting XI from so I’m confident ahead of facing Wadham Lodge.”