THE saga of Worcester City's FA Umbro Trophy second round tie at Hendon looks set to be an epic to rival 'War and Peace'.

After two abortive attempts to stage the tie, Hendon have now switched the game from their waterlogged Loot Stadium to nearby St Albans City.

City are keeping everything crossed that the tie goes ahead on Monday (7.45) -- although if the weather forecast is to be believed, no-one's holding their breath.

There's a sense of relief that the tie looks more likely to go ahead now, and the sides can concentrate on earning a home third round tie with Tiverton Town on January 13.

Although St Albans is 19 miles from Hendon -- they were originally trying grounds within a 10-mile radius -- their Clarence Park ground meets Conference requirements and will be a more than adequate setting for such a tie.

However, St Albans are due to play at home today against Maidenhead United in the Ryman League Premier Division.

If that game goes ahead and there is more rain, then Monday could also be in doubt.

There's little prospect of Hendon's own ground being fit in the foreseeable future, having not played at home now for almost a month due to the appalling weather.

But Steve Clark, from the FA's Competitions Department, said there is nothing to stop Hendon switching the tie back to their own ground -- or even, at a last resort, to Worcester -- if Monday's game is called off and their pitch suddenly improves.

He said: "It will go back to Hendon if they want to. They have been drawn at home but they have chosen to play the game elsewhere with our approval."

If it is postponed for a third time, they are likely to try again on either Wednesday or Thursday -- but if they play and the match is drawn, the replay at St George's Lane will almost certainly be delayed until the following Monday, December 18.

Mr Clark added: "If they draw on Monday we won't push them. There is no immediate hurry with the next round not due until January 13."

The irony is that Worcester's pitch would have been fit for play on both days that the game at Hendon was called off. If only they'd been drawn the other way round. . .