LIVE - Staines Town v Basingstoke Town - GAME ABANDONED (From Basingstoke Gazette)

4:31pm

Right, almost an hour and a half later and I can finally tell you that the game was abandoned after six-and-a-half minutes. The storm was apocolyptic and cut out my internet connection.

It was always going to be tricky if there was more rain but even if the pitch had been bone dry they might have struggled. The storm went on for half-an-hour and the whole of Staines turned into a giant puddle.

Staines actually made a decent start, without creating any clear chances. They forced a couple of corners but when a through-ball stopped in a puddle, the officials decided that enough was enough.

The halt to play was initially temporary but it soon became clear that no further play would be possible and the match was abandoned.

3:03pm

The floodlights are on and the thunder's getting closer as Staines begin the game brightly. Bit of lightning around as well.

3:02pm

A well observed minute's applause for former Staines chairman Alan Boon but it did not drown out a couple of rumbles of thunder as the weather closes in.

Town get the game under way.

2:56pm

It looks like we're going to get started but the groundstaff are still working on the pitch. There was just a rumble of thunder in the distance and it's getting dark though. We might not make 90 minutes if there's much more rain.

2:53pm

Team news - Basingstoke have made three changes to the side that drew with Eastleigh on Tuesday. Shaun McAuley obviously isn't fit and his place is taken by Stefan Brown, while Delano Sam-Yorke comes in for Jordace Holder-Spooner and Nathan Campbell replaces Stuart Lake.

It's not totally clear how Town will line up. It will probably be 4-3-3, with Robert Rice in midfield, but I'll let you know when we get started.

Staines: Turner, Ferrell, Brown, Ferguson, Ngoy, Drage, Wheeler, Godfrey, Garrod, Taylor, Worsfold. Subs: Beadle, Merson, Boyle, Shosanya, Bates.

Town: Bayes, Smart, Warner, Adams, Gasson, Campbell, Daly, Rice, Sills, Sam-Yorke, Brown. Subs: Holder-Spooner, Lake, Little, Dunn, McDonnell.

2:44pm

The standing water still looks a problem. Most of the pitch is fine but there are two specific areas that a ball would not roll through at all. They're forking away and even brushing at the water, while the players and officials continue to warm up, so fingers crossed.

2:36pm

Apparently there was a heavy downpour about an hour ago and if we get any more rain, the game could be in doubt. Certain areas of the pitch have standing water, which is currently being forked, with the officials looking on slightly anxiously.

2:33pm

Good afternoon and welcome to live updates from a decidedly soggy Wheatsheaf Park, Staines. Both of these sides are unbeaten after two games, having amassed four points, so it should be a good match.