MAGPIES RESERVES 3 WINCHESTER CITY 0 (MATCH ABANDONED)

FREEZING temperatures forced referee Cameron Lucas to abandon last night's Wyvern Premier League clash at the Avenue early in the second half with Dorchester on their way to a comfortable win.

Two Lewis Morgan goals and a Jack Twyford strike had given the hosts a 3-0 lead before the official deemed that the penalty area at the bypass end of the ground was too dangerous.

Magpies' boss Dave Kiteley, above, is now waiting to hear whether the fixture will have to be replayed though he is hoping common sense prevails given the situation of the match when it was abandoned and, more importantly for him, the financial implications for both clubs.

Dorchester already face a backlog of matches with the recent wet and cold weather having resulted in them playing just once in the last four months.

"I hope the league uses a bit of common sense and don't make us play the game again," said Kiteley, who did agree with Lucas's decision to call the game off on 53 minutes.

"In this day and age it's not cheap to put a game on, you're talking hundreds of pounds with floodlights, ground staff and the officials' expenses and it costs the other side to travel."

The Reserves are now scheduled to go to Fleet Town next Wednesday (7.45pm).