Chawton Athletic v Royal Exchange - MATCH ABANDONED

I don't think there were too many complaining when Referee, Clive Gatcum, ordered the players off the pitch at Binsted yesterday morning.

Just twenty or so minutes had elapsed in this League Cup tie, before conditions proved to be the ultimate winner and the match was abandoned.

Though exposed, Binsted's ground can hardly have seen weather like it before as the wind and rain pummelled the players remorselessly, making skillful play impossible.

Chawton had struck early in the piece too and had dominated up until the abandonment, an own goal resulting from a corner after the Exchange keeper's mis-control allowed the ball under his foot, a deserved lead for the Athletic who always looked likely to add to their tally after that great start.

Exchange briefly threatened with Skilts having to make the save of the Athletic season so far, tipping over a fierce drive that to all eyes seemed destined for the top corner, the resulting corner was dealt with and the ball cleared easily.

So the game is to be re-arranged, and thankfully Exchange were to be Athletic's next fixture on the 29th, so with the blessing from the league we have agreed to turn that league fixture into the cup game, Athletic happy to concede whatever advantage playing at home gave them in exchange for not having to put up the nets and corner flags.

STOP PRESS - The League inform me that both the Royal Exchange and Morley road are currently under suspension by the Hampshire and Surrey Fa's respectively, further details as to how this affects next Sunday's game will be available to me later in the week.