Maidstone have had a wasted 240-mile round trip to Salisbury, with the match postponed following a 1.45pm pitch inspection.

Referee Adam Merchant was unhappy with the bounce of the ball in one corner of the pitch and called the game off.

Stones boss George Elokobi disagreed with the decision, believing the pitch to be playable, and making the point that his side had played in far worse conditions.

But Merchant’s mind was made up and the match will be rearranged, meaning a midweek journey before Christmas or early in the new year.

Salisbury assistant manager Callum Hart and groundsman Pete Robinson conducted an in-house 9am inspection this morning, at the request of Merchant, describing the pitch as being in “excellent condition”.

However, there was a further update at 1pm advising the ground would not open until 1.45pm, after the referee had carried out his own inspection.

A number of Maidstone fans had already arrived, including all those who had travelled on the supporters’ bus.

One fan, Brian Wakefield, said: “It’s obviously disappointing and doubly irritating the fact they had a pitch inspection at 9am, albeit by the assistant manager and a member of the ground staff, which was actually pretty pointless, as an official wasn’t there to do it.

“We hadn’t left, so it’s made it worse the fact we’ve now travelled all the way down here and have to turn round and go back home again.”

Stones defender George Fowler boarded the supporters’ bus to thank fans for travelling.

Maidstone are back in National League South action at home to Eastbourne on Tuesday night.