Romford boss fumes after wasted trip

ANGRY Romford boss Paul Martin wished “common sense” had prevailed after having a wasted journey to Dulwich Hamlet for their League Cup game on Tuesday evening, writes Colin Munford.

The Champion Hill pitch passed a pitch inspection at 2pm, only for Martin and his team to arrive and find it frozen, with the game postponed an hour before kick off.

“We are not happy at all. All it needed was a bit of common sense,” said Martin.

“I phoned them up just before we left and they still said the game was on but we got there to find the car park all iced up, as well as the pitch.

“For it to be playable at two o’clock and unplayable when we arrived seems strange.

“All the players getting out of work early and risking their jobs, and I am the one that has to apologise to them for a waste of everyone’s time.

“It was an all-round three hour trip and was a complete waste of petrol whilst we gave up our training facility as well because of the game.

“We will just have to use this as an incentive for when the tie gets rearranged.”

Tuesday night’s postponement means that Boro’ haven’t had a fixture since the 3-0 win over Great Wakering Rovers on November 23 and admits his side could struggle with so little action.

“We haven’t got a game on Saturday and I doubt whether the game on Tuesday against East Thurrock will go ahead either,” said the Mill Field boss.

“I had a look at the pitch and it is still covered with snow and I can’t see much football being played at all.”

And if the week couldn’t get any worse for Martin, he had the news that back up keeper Elliott Anderson broke his hand in a freak accident, and with number one Adam Rafis unavailable during the Christmas period has to search for another keeper, and he ponders whether a winter break should be brought in.

“It is either that or we start the season earlier,” he said.

“We are well behind in our fixtures because of the cup runs we have had and it looks like we’ll have to play every Saturday and most Tuesdays now until the end of the season, coupled with the injuries every team is likely to get, it would leave you struggling.”

Romford do not have a fixture this weekend, but are scheduled to return to Ryman One North action on Tuesday when they host second placed East Thurrock United at Mill Field.