THE only game in the county to beat the New Year's Day freeze was the Bass Brewers Kent League, Premier Division, match between Whitstable and Herne Bay.It was the first time in four years that Whitstable had managed to play a New Year's Day fixture after officials placed an overnight tarpaulin across the pitch.

A 10.30am work party prepared the pitch and were rewarded with a 2-1 Whitstable win and an attendance of 375.

Football clubs elsewhere in Kent were left counting the cost of the New Year's Day freeze as icy pitches forced the postponement of lucrative local derby games.

Worst hit was crisis club Dover who lost the battle to get their Crabble pitch playable - and with it the prospect of a financial life-line from bumper gate receipts for the visit of arch-rivals Margate.

Ryman League, Premier Division title contenders Gravesend & Northfleet were another club banking on big gate receipts for yesterday's visit of Aldershot, the best supported club in the division. Fleet officials had predicted a gate well in excess of 1,000.