BILLERICAY are set to host Lowestoft tonight in the fixture which sparked a war of words between the clubs in November.

The original game at New Lodge was called off when the ref ruled the pitch was too wet to play on – after the Trawler Boys had travelled to Essex from Suffolk for the match.

Billericay chairman Steve Kent felt the postponement came after Lowestoft put pressure on the match officials, and the Suffolk side called his comments “mischievous and misleading”.

Town have had six home games called off so far this season because of a water-logged pitch and now have three games at New Lodge scheduled over the next seven days.

Craig Edwards’ side fought back from 3-0 down at Thamesmead on Saturday to earn a 3-3 draw and keep their four-match unbeaten run going.

But the manager admits the fragility of their pitch combined with the prospect of more bad weather is a major concern for him.

He said: “We are struggling to get games on at our place and the training pitch is even worse than the main pitch, so it has been hard to train.

“We are trying to keep the players’ fitness levels up but playing through mud takes its toll and we do not want to strain them. It’s difficult.

“The last few weeks have been very stop-start for us. Our away form is second to none but it is our home form that has let us down.

“In the three years that I have been at the club New Lodge has always been a fortress, but this year that has not been the case and it’s obviously something we are working on.

“But we have a fantastic dressing room and the boys look forward to coming in.

“Spirit is very important and everyone is down when a game is called off, but once they come back in they crack on and all the banter starts.

“We have two home games coming up this week and we are hoping to get two wins. We go into them in good form as we have only lost one in our last seven.

“The weather forecast is a bit daunting but I’m desperate to play.”

Billericay’s most recent postponed home fixture — against Maidstone — has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 18.