Wallingford have accepted the blame for the mess which saw them concede a walkover to visiting Cheltenham in South West 2 East.

With standing water still on their Hithercroft pitch, Wallingford, who had a team ready to play, took the advice of their groundsman to call off the match at midday on Friday.

Promotion-chasing Cheltenham were not happy with this, and contacted the league, who sent their own representative to inspect the pitch at 4.30pm.

He deemed the surface would be playable by 2.30pm the following day.

Wallingford chairman Jerry Walters said: “On the Friday evening we were told we had to play it or lose the two points.

“As our players understood the game to be off by Friday afternoon, some of them had understandably made alternative arrangements for the Saturday afternoon.

“Therefore, to try and get the team together was impossible.”

Walters added: “It is pointless appealing. Our ground-sman has made the wrong call.

“Having spoken to the league, they are not likely to make us replay it.

“We have just got to take it on the chin.”