Ballinamallard manager Gavin Dykes was left disappointed with the decision of referee Evan Boyce to call off their Danske Bank Premiership game against Glenavon at Ferney Park today.

Both Dykes and Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton were adamant that the pitch was playable but with Glenavon having already arrived at the ground, the referee postponed the game deeming that frost had left the pitch hard and it therefore would put players safety at risk.

“He came and inspected it and he said that the ground was hard and that he reckoned it would put the players safety at risk,” said Dykes. “Myself and Gary had a look at it and in my opinion it was hard in places but it was definitely playable. The referee went to put a key into the pitch and he felt the key was hard to get in but Gary put a key in all over the pitch and it went it. I was out on it earlier and I didn't see it being at risk at all. I thought the fog might be an issue but it wasn't that. The referee has to do what he has to do and we have no choice in it.”

He added: “We are disappointed and Gary is very disappointed as it has cost them money to come down. The last thing we would want to do as managers is put our players at risk, I have enough problems without doing that, but we felt it was playable. He has made his call though and although we are disappointed, that's the way it is.”