UNDER-FIRE referee Frazer Stretton insisted he made the correct decision in calling off Gillingham's New Year's Day match at Crystal Palace. Mr Stretton, from Nottingham, angered Palace chairman Simon Jordan and manager Trevor Francis after declaring the pitch unplayable at 1pm yesterday following a third inspection.

Palace had covered the pitch overnight with a balloon tent under which they placed heaters in a desperate attempt to get the game played as they anticipated a capacity crowd. The Palace ground staff looked to have won the battle against the elements until Mr Stretton announced he was unhappy with an area in a corner between the Arthur Wait Stand and the Holmesdale End of the ground.

"When I arrived and walked under the balloon tent it was almost tropical," he said. "Then I asked the ground staff to remove all the covers. It was then that I noticed one area which looked dangerous. I gave it time with three inspections but there was no great improvement and reluctantly I had no option but to call the game off. I didn't like doing it and my decision was not universally popular.

"I know it was a sickening disappointment for the players and supporters but my prime concern is for the safety of the players."

The Gillingham team coach was 10 minutes from the ground when the players heard the news. Seven coachloads of Gillingham supporters were turned back shortly after leaving Medway.

The Gills Independent Supporters' Club promised that none of their members who started out on yesterday's trip would be out of pocket