SATURDAY'S win over Lincoln City would no doubt have been called off due to the heavy rain that was hammering down on the Wham Stadium.

Storm Dennis was present in East Lancashire as the Reds used their new pitch, that was installed in the summer, to good effect to win the match 4-3.

Accrington Stanley captain Seamus Conneely praised the work done by the groundstaff over pre-season to get the pitch in the condition it is now.

"I don’t think any of us could argue that if this game was on last year then it would have been called off. The pitch is still fine even from all the rain we've had, there’s not a puddle on it at all," said the Stanley skipper. "The work the groundstaff here have put in over the summer has paid off brilliantly and it's helping us as a team."

In a similar situation last season with the weather, the home match against Sunderland in December 2018 was abandoned on the 72nd minute as referee Oliver Langford deemed the playing surface unsafe to continue on.

The match was in doubt before kick-off as heavy rain had poured down all afternoon, but it went ahead and puddles formed on the pitch as the two sides were locked at one goal apiece.

Played in front of a record crowd of 5257, it was described as farcical.

"They put the work in every week during the summer to get the pitch in a playable standard for us this year so all credit to the ground staff," Conneely added.

"We are a team who like to get the ball down and play it amongst ourselves to create chances, so the pitch being the way it is helps us massively towards achieving this.

Conneely's equaliser against Lincoln was his first goal at the Wham Stadium since scoring in a draw against Scunthorpe United in September 2018 and the skipper was delighted it was scored in front of the lively Clayton End.

"When you score in the Clayton End, it’s a fantastic feeling and I was just thankful the ball fell nicely to me on the edge of the box," added Conneely.

"I think storm Dennis helped blow it over the line. I’m even happier to get the three points."