WESTBURY United joint-manager Neil Kirkpatrick felt that last Saturday’s abandoned clash at Chard Town should have been called off even earlier.

Trailing 4-2 with a minute of regular time plus five minutes of injury time remaining, the Westbury chief felt that his league leaders were in the ascendancy and had an opportunity to snatch a point.

However, with torrential rain coming down in Somerset and the pitch virtually unplayable, the referee called a halt to the proceedings with the host 4-2 up.

“To be honest it should have been called off 10 minutes before it actually was,” Kirkpatrick said.

“The referee had fallen over, it was horrendous, but in the end, he made the right decision.

“In the five minutes before the game was called off we had scored a goal, had one disallowed and hit the post – there were still six minutes left to play so who is to say what might have happened.

“I’m not sure what will happen now, Bradford (Town) had a game called off when they were 6-1 up and had to replay it.

“Obviously, replaying the game would suit us, it is just down to the league now.”

After Saturday’s rain off, Westbury were keen to strengthen they grip on top spot in the First Division, but were held to a goalless draw at Devizes Town on Tuesday.

“It was a fair result,” Kirkpatrick added. “We maybe should have been two or three up in the first half, but they were the better team in the second half.

“If you don’t put the ball in the net then you are not going to win matches.”

Westbury will turn their attentions away from the league this Saturday when they host Sydenhams League Division One high-flyers Christchurch in the FA Vase second qualifying round.

Warminster Town suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Almondsbury last Saturday, before Mark Breffit’s side were held to a 2-2 draw by Welton Rovers, Jack Miluk scoring twice.

Warminster are also in Vase action tomorrow when they host Farnham Town.