CHRISTCHURCH joint-manager Nigel Cripps was delighted with the way his Priory side performed against Andover, despite the 5-3 defeat, but was furious that the match went ahead in the first place due to the state of the Portway Stadium pitch, writes Amdy Starmore.

"I've seen better pitches than that in Jamaica," said Cripps.

"I've been in football a long time, and I've never seen a pitch as bad as that before. It had weeds, dry grass, potholes everywhere and I think it's disgraceful that nothing is done about it.

"It would have been interesting to see that if that had been our pitch, would the referee have allowed the game to go on? When Andover come down to us, we'll offer to play the match on the beach.

"In saying all that though, I thought our lads were brilliant today and they coped with the condition of the pitch well.

"If we play like that for the entire season, we will win more than we lose."

Wayne Crutcher did the damage for Andover, scoring four of their goals, but Christchurch put up a real fight of it during the 90 minutes.

Steve Hillyer and Paul Rideout both found the net for Priory after the break to pull back a two-goal deficit to draw level.

The home side then went 4-2 in front, before Ben Osbourne reduced the arrears once more.

In the dying seconds a fifth Andover goal sealed the match.

Christchurch: Frampton, Saunders (Grace 75), Baker, Atkins (Horlock 83), Rawlins, Osbourne, Hillyer, Griffiths, Rideout, Edwards, Joyce.

As reported in Friday's Daily Echo, Bournemouth Poppies' match at Alton was called off earlier last week after the Alton ground was deemed too dangerous to play on.