Merthyr Town’s crunch home clash with promotion rivals Hitchin Town was postponed because of bad weather.

The Penydarren Park pitch was frozen and the Martyrs had a second match called off in quick succession.

Merthyr’s home fixture against Redditch United  could not go ahead over the festive period because the surface was frozen and they had the same problem again.

Manager Gavin Williams and his team are pressing hard for promotion from the Southern League Premier Division and were keen to try and move closer to second-placed Hitchin, but the weather ended hopes this weekend.

Defender Curtis McDonald was due to return to the team after suspension, but his first match back will now be at Kettering Town next Saturday.

Merthyr will then play King’s Lynn at home on Tuesday, January 24 followed by Banbury United (home, Saturday, January 28), Redditch (home, Tuesday, January 31), Dorchester Town (away, Saturday, February 4) and Chesham United (home, Saturday, February 11).