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Dover Athletic manager Chris Kinnear says decision was right to abandon National League match against Welling

Dover boss Chris Kinnear felt referee Craig Hicks was left with no option but to abandon their National League derby with Welling on Saturday.

Heavy rain left the Crabble pitch waterlogged in the second half and the conditions never looked like getting better as it started to affect the game.

"I've no arguments with the referee over that decision," said Kinnear. "There was standing water and someone could have got hurt.

Dover's Toby Ajala takes on Barney Williams. Picture: Tony Flashman
Dover's Toby Ajala takes on Barney Williams. Picture: Tony Flashman

"He tried to keep it going but the only problem he would have had was if either side had scored, the other team would have been chanting for it to be off.

"So at 0-0 it was probably the best thing to do."

Kinnear conceded that Dover failed to reach the same performance level that they did at Park View Road on Boxing Day, when they won 2-1.

"It was a difficult game," he added. "When it's windy like that, it's pretty poor (conditions) for both sides.

"We weren't as sharp as we were on Boxing Day but Welling also didn't have a game on Monday (their game at Braintree was postponed).

"That's the way it goes, it was probably more difficult than most of us appreciated on the sidelines."

Dover's Ricky Miller tries to find some space in the Welling penalty area. Picture: Tony Flashman
Dover's Ricky Miller tries to find some space in the Welling penalty area. Picture: Tony Flashman

Dover were also without striker Stefan Payne, suspended after his red card against Bromley.

Kinnear added: "You are always going to miss your top scorer.

"Toby Ajala did all right when he came on and it has given someone else an opportunity."

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