SCUNTHORPE boss Neil Cox had joined the army of ground staff to make their pitch fit for purpose for City’s visit.’

He need not have bothered after the 15-strong group of helpers saw the earlier hard work come to nothing when ref David Rock abandoned proceedings after half an hour.

That was the second time he had stopped play after heavy snow made it impossible to see the lines.

The weather had caved in virtually right on kick-off and proceeded to get worse – leaving the official with no choice but to pull the plug.

Players were struggling to see the ball and it was quickly becoming a farce as the pitch was blanketed in white.

Cox said: “Everybody at the club has been here since 9am. We were still on the pitch clearing off the snow at 4pm.

“But it is the right decision – and I just think he could have made it 10 minutes earlier.

“It’s a difficult year but this is what football is like now.”

City had made three changes from the weekend loss at Exeter.

The back four shaped up as it had finished that game, with Anthony O’Connor – making his 100th league start for City – moving to right back to accommodate Niall Canavan’s first start. Teenager Finn Cousin-Dawson was given a breather after his decent run in the side.

Gareth Evans was fit to return in midfield in place of Ollie Crankshaw while Charles Vernam switched to his preferred wide role as Andy Cook came in up front.

But there was no Danny Rowe again – at least he won’t have missed another game as he comes back from his illness.

There was a minute’s applause before the game to remember Captain Sir Tom Moore and both sides wore black armbands in respect.

The opening exchanges were played in another heavy flurry and the official quickly switched to a yellow ball.

The swirling snow made for the most testing conditions for the players who battled to keep their feet. City’s grey change kit seemed to merge into the general whiteness.

Cox kept up a constant high-pitched commentary from the home dug-out but it was hard to see what he was getting worked up about. In fact, it was hard to see anything.

Play was, not surprisingly, halted midway through the half for five minutes to allow the lines to be cleared. But it was a thankless task with the weather showing no sign of letting up.

Scunthorpe keeper Mark Howard briefly raised a laugh when he loudly bellowed for a “hand ball” in the City penalty area at the far end.

But after a few more fruitless moments of slip-sliding, the official called a full stop to the growing farce to everyone's relief.