DORCHESTER Town boss Phil Simkin had no qualms with referee Adrian Quelch following the decision to abandon tonight’s home game against Hayes & Yeading.

Incessant rainfall before and during the match gave the Christchurch official no option but to call it off after 35 minutes of the first half with the score at 0-0.

The referee had already spoken to Magpies’ captain Mark Jermyn and Hayes’ skipper Dean Inman about the conditions before consulting Simkin and opposite number Phil Babb soon after.

The game at the Avenue had already been postponed earlier this month due to a waterlogged pitch so both clubs will try again on a date to be confirmed.

Speaking to Echosport regarding the referee’s actions, Simkin said: “I think he was possibly right to start the game but I think we (Simkin and Babb) both knew we weren’t going to finish it.

“I thought the referee did well and he was right to stop it when he did.”

Dorchester’s ground staff had been working on the pitch until just before kick-off, though their efforts ultimately proved to be in vain.

The sweeping rain turned an already sticky playing surface into something of a mud bath and it wasn’t much of a surprise when the official abandoned it 10 minutes before half-time.

The Magpies now face a run of three away fixtures in Skrill South and they don’t play at home again until February 11 when Havant & Waterlooville are the visitors to the county town. n More on page 29