Bradford Park Avenue's home tie against Conference North outfit Nuneaton Borough in the final qualifying round of the FA Trophy was the biggest casualty of the severe wet weather in the area.

Avenue will try again tonight but are hoping the forecast is wrong as more rain is predicted.

The weekend's events have already led to the visit of neighbours Farsley Celtic in the West Riding County Cup, scheduled for today, being put back in the hope they can host Nuneaton.

There was standing water on the pitch at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday and there were similar scenes across the country, not just locally.

Avenue were in today's draw for the first-round proper of the FA Trophy as an either-or, so they will know what lies ahead if they do beat Nuneaton.

That possibility will be increased now that it is a midweek game. Despite being in Conference North, the midlands outfit are still part-time players. The day job takes precedence and there could be changes to the squad that would have been available on Saturday.

Avenue press officer Tim Clapham said: "I feared the worst when the rain came down on Friday. It was even more likely that it would get postponed as it didn't stop until early Saturday morning.

"There were people at the ground from early on but they could do nothing as the rain continued to fall.

"An inspection was called - you cannot call off a game in the Trophy until the day of the tie - but Nuneaton had to be informed as quickly as possible as it is not a short trip."

The local trio of clubs in the Northern Counties East Premier Division faced a total washout, with Eccleshill and Thackley due to be at home while Liversedge faced a long trip.

They should have headed south to Nottinghamshire but were never sure they would have to set off as Carlton Town, in the Gedling area of Notting-ham, had already been in touch.

"Their bloke told us on Friday that there was a good chance it would be off," said Sedge boss Eugene Lacy.

"You can't take that as a definite but, when the club goes out of its way to contact you the day before, you know it's very doubtful."

Thackley should have hosted Armthorpe Welfare and treasurer Steve Paley, with tongue firmly in cheek, said: "It was called off because our secretary Stewart Willingham wanted to go shopping."

Willingham later added: "I'm sick to the back teeth of Christmas shopping. I just wish the game had been on to save me from the experience.

"Ken Haycock came to the ground early on our request. He should have been refereeing at Pickering Town but that had already been called off.

"That was about 10.30am and it was nowhere near playable. We contacted Armthorpe soon after - and by the time 3pm came along, it was fine and dry! Maybe we could have played but it would have messed the pitch up and caused problems later."

Eccleshill did not have to act as early because Garforth Town were only coming from Leeds. That fact was made redundant as standing water was still on the Plumpton Park pitch late into the afternoon.