Heavy rain caused the postponement of Dover's much anticipated National League game with play-off rivals Tranmere on Friday afternoon.

Referee Neil Hair felt the Crabble pitch was playable at 1pm but decided to call the game off half-a-hour later after a bout of heavy rain which was expected to last all afternoon.

By that stage there were already pools of water on the playing surface and Dover chairman Jim Parmenter revealed that Mr Hair's main concern was that the game would not be able to finish.

Speaking to the club's website Mr Parmenter said: "It's one of those things, it's very unfortunate for us because of course a big Bank Holiday game like this is massively important for cash flow for us at this time of this year.

"It's a big blow to us but the referee's made his decision there's nothing we can do

"It was perfectly playable when the referee arrived but we've just had a deluge of rain, it's forecast to carry on raining all afternoon so the referee was concerned that the game would not finish so that's his decision."

It is understood that Tranmere's players were about 10 minutes from the ground when they learned of the postponement, causing them to turn around and begin their journey home.

Contrary to some reports it is believed few, if any of the club's near 500-strong away support were inside Crabble when the game was called off.

Tranmere vice-chairman Nicola Palios wrote on Twitter: "An apology to the Tranmere fans who have made a 600-mile round trip and an explanation of why there was no pitch inspection might be in order?"

Ahead of the postponement only three points separated Tranmere in third, from seventh-placed Dover, who have won four of their last five home league games including the last three without conceding.

Whites travel to Kent rivals Ebbsfleet on Easter Monday (3pm).