Managers left frustrated as atrocious conditions batter England

Promotion chasing Marc Seager was one of many frustrated managers throughout the country that had their games abandoned on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Whitstable Town boss saw his side reclaim top spot in the Kent League table with a 1-0 win at arch-rivals Herne Bay last Wednesday night courtesy of Steve Marshall’s tenth goal of the season with just three minutes from time.

The Oysterboys travelled to Deal Town on Saturday with a 13 league match unbeaten run behind them but fell behind on the half hour mark when Tommy Martin put through his own net.

But Jake Gess levelled proceedings just seven minutes before the game was abandoned in the 58^th minute.

Whitstable Town, meanwhile, dropped back to second in the table following Thamesmead Town’s 3-1 win over local rivals Greenwich Borough at Bayliss Avenue.

With manager Keith McMahon still down under, Steve Waite took charge of the side that secured a comfortable victory.

Ross Cable latched onto a great through ball from the halfway line to steer the ball past the goalkeeper on the edge of the area after 13 minutes.

But they had to wait until the 61^st minute for the second goal to arrive. Pedro Knight finished off a fine passive move to slot into an empty net.

Former Tunbridge Wells striker Dave Hassett pulled a goal back for Phil Miles’ side, scoring with Borough’s only shot on goal but Thamesmead wrapped up the win when striker Ross Cable netted his sixth goal in his last four games to return to top spot level on points with Whitstable Town (38 points) but Seager’s side have three games in hand.

But Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk that he felt his side would finish 2006 unbeaten in the league.

He admitted: “At no time was I worried. With the weather at our backs in the second half I knew it was a different game.

“Stuart King hit the crossbar with a great free kick and we were building a head of steam after Jack Gess scored within the first ten minutes of the second half.

“Even the most ardent Deal fan could see they were up against it in the second half.

“You could see by how quickly the Deal players left the pitch which side were more relived the game was abandoned.

“I have no problems with the ref calling the game off. My feeling was he could have said to both benches “we give it another five minutes when if no better we’re off”, but he just blew the whistle and no one knew what was going on.”

Even a Premiership game had to be abandoned as heavy rain and gale forced winds battered the country.

Watford’s game with Wigan Athletic was halted early with the scores level at 1-1 due to a saturated pitch at Vicarage Road.

And in Kent, problems continue to mount at Sittingbourne’s Bourne Park ground as another game is called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Lodgers Maidstone United will need to re-arrange their Kent derby with Chatham Town as their game was called off on Saturday morning.

Other games in Kent failed to finish with the Ryman Premier League derby between Tonbridge Angels and Ramsgate coming to an end with 22 minutes of the game still to play with the Rams leading 2-0 at the time.

Ashford Town were drawing Hastings United 2-2 when their game was abandoned after just eleven minutes into the second half. The Sussex side went into the game at the Homelands on an eight match unbeaten run.

And in the Kent League, Lordswood and Hythe Town were playing out a goal-less stalemate before their game ended after 65 minutes.

But you must feel sorry for Erith & Belvedere as they have twice led local rivals VCD Athletic 1-0 at Oakwood before games have been abandoned.

A recent midweek London Senior Cup tie was abandoned due to fog after 48 minutes but Saturday’s league game at the same venue was abandoned after 58 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

But at least Martin Farnie’s Tunbridge Wells players could stay in the warmth.

Their opponents, Sporting Bengal United, decided to cancel their game at Culverden Stadium as they “couldn’t raise a team” due to a “religious festival.”