Dumbarton FC boss backs decision to call of match

Nov 27 2009 by Marc Mclean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

JIM Chapman backed the decision of referee Steven Nicholls to postpone Dumbarton’s game at home to Peterhead on Saturday.

The match official called the game off about 80 minutes before kick-off as a strong wind and rain battered the Rock.

Peterhead had just finished the long journey down from Aberdeenshire when the decision was taken to call the game off.

He said: “It was the right decision. Right up until 1.15pm everything was fine, which is a credit to our ground staff for the work they have put in round the clock.

“The referee did not just look at the pitch and call it off. Everybody just knew it was not going to get any easier with the rain.

“Rather than face the same scenario as with the abandoned Dundee United v Rangers game a few weeks ago, it was decided to call the game off.

“The players’ safety came into consideration and, all in all, I think the referee came to the right decision.

“We have sympathy for Peterhead as they had arrived at the ground – a situation we were in with a postponed game at Arbroath two seasons ago.”

The game has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 8 at 7.45pm

But Jim found one advantage to Saturday’s postponement as he was able to go and watch Saturday’s opponents Morton in action.

Sons head for Cappielow in the Active Nation Scottish Cup third round with their preparations slightly spoiled by the cancellation of the Peterhead match.

However, the boss is confident that a midweek closed-door match will make up for that as his team bids for a cup shock against the first division club.

He added: “We had a bounce game organised for this week, so that will now take on a different meaning in a bid to prepare for the Morton game.”