Referee Richard Martin made the controversial decision to call today’s game between Luton and Ebbsfleet off just 20 minutes before kick-off at Kenilworth Road, writes Mark Wood.
Town boss Paul Buckle was unimpressed by the decision, while managing director Gary Sweet branded it ‘utterly ridiculous’.
Fleet boss Liam Daish had also been in favour of the game going ahead, but the official overruled both managers.
His decision was made all the more bizarre as the weather had eased when he made the late call, which was followed by blue skies and even sunshine.
Martin refused to speak to the press after making his controversial ruling, which evidently angered many of Luton’s players as they were forced to trudge dejectedly from the field, while angry supporters also voiced their disappointment.
The only change to Luton’s proposed line-up had come on the bench where JJ O’Donnell had been ruled out by an ankle injury and was replaced by Dan Walker.
For all the reaction see this week’s Luton News/Dunstable Gazette.
Line-ups
Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Janos Kovacs, Alex Lawless, Jon Shaw, Scott Rendell, Jake Howells, Simon Ainge, Stuart Fleetwood, Arnaud Mendy, Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray. Substitutes: Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Greg Taylor, Matt Robinson, Dan Walker, Dean Brill.
Fleet (4-4-2): Preston Edwards, Craig Stone, Phil Walsh, Pail Lorraine (C), Liam Enver-Marum, Nathan Elder, Tom Phipp, Joe Howe, Neil Barrett, Liam Bellamy, Lanre Azeez. Substitutes: Ryan Blake, Lucas Menz, Jay Folkes, Ashley Carew, Giannoulis Fakinos.
Referee: Richard Martin (Weston-Super-Mare).
Assistant Referees: C Francis and G Sprague.
Fourth Official: A Serrano.