The trouble started because the match did not. And sinister plot lines swiftly developed at the friendly little home of the village club. Histon, where they baked a giant gingerbread man in tribute to the team’s star striker, was racked with accusations of conspiracy and corruption as if it was the setting for an episode of Midsomer Murders, not the latest instalment of that long-running romantic drama, The Magic of the FA Cup.

Black magic, perhaps. Histon’s third-round tie against Swansea City on January 3 was postponed 3½ hours before kick-off because of a frozen pitch. But there was enough hot air talked at the Glass World Stadium to thaw the grass, with each club blaming the other as a row over the referee’s decision escalated.

Gareth Baldwin, the Histon chairman, claimed that Swansea officials placed undue pressure on the referee to postpone the match, suggesting that they had been “in the ear” of Phil Crossley from early on the Saturday morning. Swansea denied that and rebuked their opponents from the Blue Square Premier for not accepting a day earlier that the weather forecast was so pessimistic as to make postponement inevitable. Histon countered that the frost had eased and by kick-off time the surface was playable. Details such as the whereabouts of Graeme Jones, the Swansea assistant manager, between 9am and 9.30am, developed an improbable significance.

The sides try again this evening in the rearranged fixture after the pitch passed an inspection at 5.30pm yesterday. Whatever the temperature in Cambridgeshire, Baldwin is expecting heat. “There will definitely be some extra feeling when we play,” he said soon after the postponement, adding that it is “no doubt going to be spicy”. Yesterday he was more diplomatic. “I probably said too much but I said it as I saw it. We were disappointed but we’ve got to look forward,” he said.

“I don’t hold any bad feelings, if they do, then I’m sorry for that, but let’s move on. Their directors were invited to dine with us before the game and they’ve accepted, emotions could run high either way.”

Implicit was the notion that the non-League side with a reputation for playing direct football would have loved to meet Coca-Cola Championship opponents on a tricky pitch, while Swansea, known for their passing style, were not enthused at the idea of dancing on ice. Their challenge this evening could be turf not frozen solid but muddy and malleable. “It’s very heavy,” Baldwin said. “If we get a substantial amount of rain, the pitch may not be playable.”

Swansea could be forgiven for any urge to procrastinate. Roberto Martinez’s side lost 4-2 away to Havant & Waterlooville in a third-round replay last season and missed out on a trip to Anfield. Histon, second in their division, have already disposed of League opposition in Swindon Town and Leeds United and two key players are back from injury. The squad is well rested after last weekend’s postponement of a league game against Weymouth that enabled Baldwin and his wife, Lisa, to go to the Emirates Stadium and watch Arsenal play Bolton Wanderers.

The winners travel to Portsmouth or Bristol City, who face each other in a third-round replay at Ashton Gate in one of nine Cup replays or rearranged matches this evening.

There is also shock potential as Cheltenham Town host Doncaster Rovers, West Bromwich Albion play away to Peterborough United and Leyton Orient meet Sheffield United.

As Arsenal season-ticket holders, the Baldwins would be delighted by a tie with Portsmouth, managed by Tony Adams, a Highbury legend. But a reunion with Gary Johnson, in charge at City and a former Histon player, would be no less welcome.

What are the chances? John Beck, the Histon assistant manager, did not attempt to give any jangling Welsh nerves an extra tweak. “I think they’re going to be too much for us,” he said.

Despite the postponement controversy and the strain on the resources of a club staffed by part-timers and volunteers, Baldwin sees only positives. “Give me an FA Cup run every year,” he said. “It’s like everything you dream of in football.”