Ashford United have been given the go-ahead to start using their new 3G pitch.

The club's new artificial playing surface at Homelands was finally passed fit following a FIFA inspection on Friday.

It means the club can now stage their home Southern Counties East League fixture against Deal Town on Tuesday night 7.45pm).

The news will be welcomed by United owner Don Crosbie as well as the club's players and supporters who have had to travel for all six of the club's opening league games. United have won four and lost two, leaving them third in the table.

The new 3G pitch was supposed to be in place for the start of the season but in early August there were delays in shipping the surface to the UK and then a hold-up in customs.

Matters were further complicated by Operation Stack, meaning 3,500 tons of materials needed to finish the job were also affected.

United were forced to postpone their opening league game at home to Beckenham Town on August 8 and more recently played groundsharers Canterbury City at Hythe's Reachfields Stadium because the Homelands pitch still was not ready.

The club could still face punishment for the postponement of the opening game against Beckenham.

They face a hearing after being charged in accordance with league rule 8.6 – failing to fulfil a fixture – which carries a possible fine of between £250 and £1,000.