Just when Oxford have got the track right, someone comes along with a heavy vehicle and makes big ruts in an already-saturated surface, writes John Gaisford.

That was the scene which greeted promoter Nigel Wagstaff after he was called to the Stadium on Monday.

He said: "I was called early on, when it was evident that the track had been damaged by a heavy vehicle being driven over it."

It is a cruel blow for the Silver Machine management, who have worked so hard to get the track to a near-perfect condition.

"The priority has to be our clash against the Poole Pirates tomorrow," added Wagstaff.

With the freshly-laid track still so new, the Silver Machine's Conference League side's meeting against Buxton on Tuesday night was called off because of the persistent rain.