Upwey & Broadwey boss Steve Reynolds believes the “loophole” that enabled Portland United Reserves to call off their Dorset Senior League meeting at Grove Corner last Saturday needs to be shut.

The Blues asked permission to postpone their home game against Upwey after three of their players were called up to the county under-18s squad. But after learning more about the strength of the islanders’ squad, Reynolds is adamant they had sufficient depth in their ranks to fulfil the fixture.

He told Echosport: “Portland United have 45 players signed on with 29 of those having signed Senior League papers.

“They had three in the county under-18s squad and their first team took 17 for their game at Merley Cobham Sports in the Dorset Premier League.

“That leaves more than enough players to fulfil the fixture but the Dorset County Football Association continue to leave this loophole open where teams can just call games off.

“To say they could not raise a side is just ridiculous and it is about time that loophole was shut. If a side has enough players available then they should be made to play the game.”

Despite also having three players called up to the county under-18s squad, Weymouth Reserves were forced to play their DPL clash at Blandford United last Saturday or risk a £200 fine and a three-point deduction.

That decision angered Terras’ boss Bren-don King who accused the authorities of having “one rule for one, and one rule for another”.

Reynolds added: “The reason why Portland Reserves were allowed to call their game off and Weymouth Reserves were not, is apparently because they are in different leagues.

“But it is extremely frustrating for us, as not only has it meant we have had to go a week without playing, but it could also see the fixture rearranged as a midweek game, which could see several Portland first-team players turn out against us.”

Meanwhile, the DCFA has confirmed that the final decisions surrounding the two highlighted fixtures had nothing to do with them.

DCFA spokesman Jon Fancy said: “Any decision with regards to clubs being allowed to call off fixtures is the responsibility of the leagues in which they play.

“The DCFA does not run any of those leagues now, so it is up to each one’s individual rules.”

When Echosport contacted Dorset League representative Mike Hansford about Portland’s postponement, he said: “When the DCFA was running the league it was always the policy that if a team had two or more players called up to a county squad they were permitted to call the game off.

“We have just carried that on and that is why Portland were permitted to postpone their match against Upwey.”

As for the case involving the Terras, DPL secretary Giles Kilshawe-Fall added: “We did receive a phone call from Brendon King enquiring about the rule.

“And it is true that the DCFA has a ruling that states if you have two or more players called up to the county squad you may call off the game but it does not mean you can, so I took advice on it from our league.

“Two out of the three players in question had not made any appearances for Weymouth Reserves this season, while the other one had made one appearance as a substitute, so officially no permission was granted.

“The figures just did not stack up. Had those players made three or four appearances the decision taken may have been different.”