ROYSTON Town boss Paul Attfield slammed Saturday's opponents Dunstable Town and the match referee for the postponement of their South Midlands Premier Division game. The referee called a halt to the possibility of any play at 2.40pm after consultation wit

ROYSTON Town boss Paul Attfield slammed Saturday's opponents Dunstable Town and the match referee for the postponement of their South Midlands Premier Division game.

The referee called a halt to the possibility of any play at 2.40pm after consultation with his two assistants, despite Attfield claiming his team had made the journey after being told the game would be on.

The fuming Royston boss said: "We had communication with Dunstable late morning stating that their pitch would be fine and an inspection not necessary and when we arrive at the ground I was greeted by the Dunstable manager who said the game was in doubt and an inspection imminent.

"The referee was young and was incapable of making decision on the spot. Despite 98 per cent of the pitch being fine there was an area of about 10 yards in front of the main stand that was reasonably hard but certainly not dangerous to play on.

"I definitely felt that home officials were egging the referee to call the game off at times and after consultation with the late arriving assistants the ref deemed the pitch unfit.

"I definitely feel we have been made to look quite muggish and with better and more thoughtful management this whole scenario could have been avoided."

Attfield said he could have arranged for his first team squad to play in another fixture had he been told the match was going to be off earlier, and as a result the whole day was a washout.

"I could have had my players playing in our reserve fixture or at the very least training but the time factor means the whole day has been a waste and when we left their team were already training on the pitch to prove how unplayable it was," Attfield said.

"We can do without these unnecessary disruptions as it is another week lost without a game and our fixture back log is slowly reaching unmanageable proportions."

Royston will travel to Stansted in the South Midlands Floodlit Cup tomorrow night (Tuesday) before facing another away trip, this time to Kentish Town in the league, on Wednesday evening.

One game the Crows will not be playing is their FA Vase Fifth Round match this Saturday.

Royston were supposed to face the winner of Wroxham and Armthorpe Welfare but that game was postponed on Saturday due to snow on the pitch and has been rearranged for this Saturday.

This means the Crows now have a free afternoon unless they are able to arrange a fixture.