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Deal boss Derek Hares says he is amazed Southern Counties East football continued amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
The Premier League and Football League announced on Friday they were suspending matches until next month at the earliest.
But SCEFL games went ahead as planned at the weekend before league bosses acted on new government advice on Monday evening by suspending play.
Deal won 2-1 at AFC Croydon on Saturday but Hares doesn’t think the game should have been played.
They were initially told Tuesday's scheduled match at Bearsted could go ahead before the U-turn.
Hares said: “I’m amazed it carried on, if I’m honest.
“With everything that’s going on I’m really surprised but obviously the league felt it’s OK so you’ve got to go with it.
“Don’t get me wrong, I hope the season is completed but you’ve got to be sensible with it.”
Hares’ players were willing to fulfil the AFC Croydon game – but that’s not the point.
He added: “I asked all the players if they wanted to play and every single one of them said yes.
“If any of them had said no, that’s fair enough. I wouldn’t have tried to make anyone play.
“On purely the football side we all want to play and see it through to the end but on the health side you’ve got to be a little concerned.”
Sam Wilson’s double gave Deal victory at AFC Croydon – his first goals since recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for three months.
Hares said: “It was good to get the win and it was nice to see Sam back scoring goals.
“He hadn’t scored for some time, having been out, and he took them both well.
“We’ve missed his goal threat. He’s a good player and a hard worker for the team, too.”
While Wilson is back in business, Ben Cardwell suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury and probably won’t play again this season, should the campaign resume.
Hares said: “I’d imagine that’s him out for the season. He’s been out for nearly three months already.
“He tried to come back before and felt it go a bit. He tried again on Saturday and it went after about 15 minutes, so he had to come off.
“It’s been quite a big issue for him this season. He can rest it through the summer.”
Deal were due to host Chatham this Saturday.
