MAGPIES’ boss Phil Simkin has accused Truro City of putting referee Mark Pottage under “intense pressure” to play yesterday’s Blue Square Bet South clash at Treyew Road.

After several inspections of the Cornish club’s pitch, the official eventually took the decision to postpone the match with just 20 minutes left until the scheduled 3pm kick-off.

Although the call was late it was one that Simkin wholeheartedly agreed with, just not the way in which it came about.

Speaking to Echosport after the Magpies’ frustrating Boxing Day afternoon, he said: “I can’t think of a game I’ve been involved in that has been called off that late.

“I have to say the referee was being put under a lot of pressure by Truro to play the game but nothing surprises me where they are concerned.

“He had no choice because the pitch was under water. He made the right decision but it’s just the way it came about that’s annoying.

“The weather forecast was pretty straight forward – it was going to hammer down with rain.

“The referee nearly called it off earlier in the day but waited until 2pm and it was quite obvious it couldn’t be played.

“We were on the pitch warming-up and it was lashing down. I was just about to go out there and the referee came and said it was off about 20 minutes before.

“Everyone was out there drenched and covered in mud after the warm-up and at that stage we were just ready to play.

He continued: “I have absolutely no sympathy with Truro for wanting to get the game on in that way.

“The referee is experienced and I’ve known him for many years but he was put under intense pressure. I thought he dealt with it brilliantly and made the right decision.

“It was a long way for us to go and obviously it’s going to cost us money and we’ll have to go back there one Tuesday night in the new year.”

The rain, which also put paid to Dorchester’s home encounter with Farnborough on Saturday, is beginning to cause all sorts of problems for Simkin’s men, who now have not played a league game since December 8.

And Simkin, back at the helm after a period of personal leave, is worried that the impending fixture backlog will stretch his squad to its limits.

“We’re going to have to play twice a week for the rest of the season which will stretch the squad,” he added.

“At the moment we are fine but as soon as we start playing and pick up injuries it’s going to stretch us.

The squad will train today in preparation for Saturday’s trip to Bath City.