Chris Wilder said he felt sorry for the fans after Oxford United’s New Year’s Day match at Rushden was called off less than two and a half hours before kick-off.

And to make the day even more frustrating for the U’s, they lost top spot for the first time since August when title rivals Stevenage beat Cambridge 4-1.

It’s the second time in a week that a contest between these clubs was called off at the eleventh hour, following the Boxing Day postponement at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford’s game at Nene Park was postponed by match referee Michael Naylor after he inspected the pitch around 12.30pm, with the management of both clubs in attendance.

“There was one bit that was really firm, slippy and icy, and it was not going to improve,” said United’s assistant manager Mickey Lewis. “It was the right decision.”

Said Wilder, on returning to the team hotel from the stadium: “The ones I feel sorry for are the fans.

“They’ve seen just one game of football over the whole of the Christmas period.

“I’ve just spoken to supporters outside the ground. They’re disappointed, but they also understand.

“Rushden gave it the best opportunity they could of playing it.

“And unlike Boxing Day when he could have let it go as it was going to be warm, it was going to freeze again.”

the match would have been Jake Wright’s Oxford United debut.

The 23-year-old left-footed centre back, who played for Wilder at Halifax, has signed on loan from Brighton until the end of the season.

For many fans, it was another wasted day.

Andy Wallington, 46, from Carterton, travelled to the game with his two sons Adam, 16 and Nathan, 13.

The trio met two friends and left Milton-under-Wychwood at 10.30am. They arrived at Nene Park shortly after 12 and heard the news within 30 minutes.

Mr Wallington said: “We’d just got a drink and sat down when we were told it was off.

“I'm gutted after not being able to watch much football over Christmas.

“There was going to be a huge Oxford United following there – and I’d kept off the drink last night for it because football comes first.”

Laura Hirons, 25, from Bicester, turned down an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party in Manchester so she’d be able to attend the game.

She was in the stadium bar when she heard, and said: “There was a stunned silence in the bar when the news was coming round.

“I was gutted. Really gutted, especially as the Boxing Day game got cancelled.

“We were just lucky we weren’'t playing York away.”