Rochester United’s manager got the reaction he was looking for last weekend - even if the weather meant their game at Lydd failed to finish.

Poor weather conditions and a deteriorating pitch led to their Challenge Cup second round match being abandoned with the hosts 2-0 up in the first half.

Despite the scoreline, Rochester boss Matt Hume had every confidence his side could have turned it around with the wind and the rain behind them - conditions which had seen them up against it in the first 45 minutes.

Hume had demanded a response after a surprise 2-0 loss at Halls the week before.

“The abandonment was completely understandable but I was really gutted,” Hume said.

“I had changed a few things because it was a cup game. I rested a few normal first-team players and we had them to bring on the second half as well.

“But the conditions were just atrocious. It just got worse and worse.

“I was pretty sheltered in the dugout and heading into the break I'm thinking, ‘Right, brilliant. We’ve got lots of energy and can easily get something out of this game.’ Two goals was nothing.

“I was pleased with how we had played but I'm looking around the dressing room and there are three or four players shivering. Our lads were saying they couldn't see anything and the wind and the rain was hurting their faces.”

The game will now be rearranged.

It’s now back to SCEFL Division 1 action this Saturday at home to Meridian VP - the team sitting bottom of the table with 14 defeats from 14.

Hume hopes his side take lessons from their recent defeat to lowly Halls AFC, losing 2-0, and he’s just glad that they are back at home after struggling to get his team motivated to play at the Erith Stadium, where the pitch is surrounded by a running track.

Hume said: “We let our standards slip and it's a really hard place to get them motivated. It's just got nothing going on down there.

“Whatever you seem to say to the players it's very hard. We had a great performance the week before (in the FA Vase against Fleet Town), probably the best we'd ever played, this season at least, but there was just no supporters other than about six or seven of ours. It was cold. It was horrible. It was flat and I could see in the first 10, 15 minutes of the game, we weren't at it.

“We weren't first to the ball. We weren't picking up seconds and I was getting really frustrated because I could see that we just weren't at the races.

“The teams that win the league go there and just do a professional job and get a result out of it but it’s very hard to go there and get your players motivated.”

The score was goalless at the break and Rochester had one goal controversially ruled out for offside and a penalty from Mack Reilly that was saved. Halls won it with a couple of breakaway goals.

“I think that was the only two chances they had that half,” Hume said.

“They thought they'd won the cup final. They really wanted to beat us but I think we deserved what we got that day. I was really disappointed with them.

“It was the first cold day we had as well, it was bitterly cold and it was just really hard to get them up for it. It shouldn't have been. I blame us completely. It was our fault. We should have adapted better and been more professional about it but we weren't.

“Hopefully we learn from that and don't let our standards slip. That was what it was all about for me last Saturday (against Lydd).

“The good thing is we're at home this weekend. We played well last Saturday and I know we were 2-0 down at half-time but they all worked really hard. They reacted to what happened the week before.

Southern Counties East Division 1 table