Abandonment irritates Seasiders boss Coyle (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Abandonment irritates Seasiders boss Coyle

4:57pm Thursday 28th January 2010

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FC CLACTON boss David Coyle admitted being baffled and frustrated by the abandonment of his side’s midweek cup duel with Saffron Walden.

Tuesday’s First Division Knockout Cup quarter-final was called off early in the second half, due to a freezing pitch at the Rush Green Bowl.

The game had not started until 8pm, due to the visitors arriving late, and then another ten minutes were lost when the officials deliberated during half-time.

Play got under way again but proceedings were called to a halt within minutes of the second half restarting.

The score was still 0-0 and Coyle told the Gazette: “It was bizarre.

“At half-time the referee asked us all for our opinions and everyone was happy to carry on.

“There hadn’t been any bad tackles and, to my mind, if the pitch was deemed playable at the start there was no reason to then abandon the game.

“But within a couple of minutes their goalkeeper made a bit of a complaint about one small area of the pitch, which he thought was dangerous.

“The next thing we knew the referee had abandoned the game and that was that.”

For the full story, see this week's Clacton Gazette.

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