Dale had come from behind to lead the game 2-1 when the referee suspended play in the 78th minute. After a near 30-minute delay, in which the coaching staff and grounds team tried their utmost to make the pitch playable, referee Andrew Humphries officially abandoned the fixture.
We now await further information on whether the result will stand or the game must be replayed, which will be determined by the National League. We will provide an update in due course.
Jimmy McNulty had made two changes to the team that beat Eastleigh last weekend. Ryan Galvin made his first start since joining on loan from Barnet, whilst Connor McBride returned to the starting eleven.
Dale fell behind inside six minutes when Southend’s Oli Coker fired high into the net from the edge of the area.
McBride had a great opportunity to equalise midway through the first half when a chance fell to him on his left foot, but he sent it wide of the far post.
He hit another effort target shortly afterwards when under pressure from a defender, before Tarryn Allarakhia fired one over from 25 yards.
The visitors’ Gus Scott-Morriss forced Nathan Broome into a fine fingertip save from a corner, before the Southend man’s dipping effort was headed off the line by Kyron Gordon on the stroke of half-time.
Dale came flying out of the traps after the break, with Tobi Adebayo-Rowling sending a shot wide of the far post.
The equaliser came in the 53rd minute. A ball forward wasn’t dealt with Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi, who spilled it into the path of Ryan East. He showed great composure to take it around a defender and slot into the empty net.
Sam Beckwith rattled the crossbar with a shot from distance, shortly before being forced off due to injury.
His replacement Dan Moss was then instrumental in Dale’s second, collecting the ball on the left and finding Allarakhia inside. He took the ball past a defender inside the area before slamming home into the far corner.
Mani Dieseruvwe saw a one-on-one effort well saved, but just a minute later, the referee ordered the players off the pitch due to the conditions.
Despite best efforts from Dale staff, two further inspections resulted in the match being abandoned with 78 minutes played.
