Maidstone United's FA Trophy first round tie against Histon at Homelands goes ahead on Tuesday night after passing a pitch inspection late on Monday.

The first round tie has been postponed six times because of bad weather and unplayable surfaces at Ashford Town's ground since it was originally scheduled at the start of December.

However intensive work on the pitch by Town groundsman Steve Hackett, pictured working on the surface, means the ground is ready for the visit of the Blue Square Premier side.

The FA has insisted the game must be played this week and had the surface been deemed unplayable, then Maidstone would have forfeited home advantage and the tie would have reverted to Histon's Glass World Stadium the following night.

The winners of the tie, which kicks-off at 7.45pm, face a trip to Salisbury in the second round, with a third round tie against Cambridge United or Eastbourne Borough to follow for the winners of that tie.