CULLY BACKS REF DECISION

BANBRIDGE Town Chairman Andrew Cully has backed referee Damien Basketfield's decision to call off the Bob Radcliffe Cup final for a second time just 45 minutes before it was due to start.

Supporters of both sides had already begun to arrive at Lakeview Park when the decision was taken to postpone the game.

Basketfield made the decision to call it off after originally giving the game the go-ahead at 11.15am on New Year's Day. But just two hours later he changed his mind and informed Town boss Colin Malone and his Loughgall counterpart, Niall Currie, of his decision in the middle of the pitch (see above picture).

Players from both sides were out doing their warm-up when the decision was taken.

Mr Cully said that the referee was correct in his decision to call it off and understood the reasons why it was taken.

"A first pitch inspection was taken at 11.15am and the referee gave the pitch every opportunity to thaw," he said.

"Loughgall's secretary confirmed to me that a high percentage of the pitch had thawed out and when Colin Malone arrived at 12.30pm the referee once again confirmed that the game was on.

"The players went out to get warmed up but at 1.15pm the two bosses were called together and the referee informed them of the collective decision both he and his assistants had made.

"I think Loughgall felt it was the right decision but we were happy for the game to go ahead."

He added, "It's unfortunate but I couldn't criticise the referee - he gave the game every opportunity to go ahead but it just didn't work out.

"He had no option because the pitch wasn't improving.

"I have sympathy for those who travelled down but there was nothing anybody could have done.

"We were of the belief the game would go ahead. A lot of work had been done on the pitch to make it playable."

The decision means the Town have not played a game of football since December 19 and due to the Intermediate Cup and Irish Cup, which they are no longer involved in, that the club may not be in action again until January 24 when they are due to play Larne in the Ladbrokes.com Championship 1.

However Mr Cully added that they were at least hopeful of playing the league game with Loughgall, which was originally scheduled for Saturday past, sometime before the Larne game.

But he also said: "We haven't been approached about a new date for the final.

"We are keen, however, to get the league game played soon. That will likely be a midweek fixture under the floodlights at Loughgall."

Loughgall boss Niall Currie also agreed with the decision of the referee.

"Ultimately it was the right decision to call off the final, but that should have been done during the first pitch inspection," said Currie.

"From the moment I arrived at the ground, I knew the match was in danger. At the end of the day, I have a responsibility to my players, and in my eyes, the pitch was dangerous.

""It is disappointing for everyone concerned and a lot of people had already arrived at the ground when the match was called off.