PORTLAND United boss Simon Browne sees the pros and cons after his side’s match at Fareham Town in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division was postponed on Saturday due to a frozen pitch.

The Blues were due to play the Creeksiders, who are currently 16th in the league, in the match which was one of two league games called off due to bad weather with Sholing against Cowes Sports also postponed.

Browne saw the positives from the postponement saying: “Sam Buckler wasn’t available because of an ankle injury he picked up last weekend so he ruled himself out.

“So I guess in that respect it gives him another week to recover from that and Jamie Beasley wasn’t available for the game which he told me last week-end.”

It isn’t known when the match will be rescheduled for but Browne said he would be very surprised if it was rearranged before Christmas.

Browne admitted to being a bit frustrated with regards to the travelling, saying: “It is frustrating when you get up on a Saturday morning and you start planning and getting your bags ready and sorting out all of the travel arrangements etcetera and you get the call. It is what it is, that’s football for you.”

Browne explained the reaction from the players to the postponement: “A couple of them asked to go and play for the reserves and a couple were a little bit annoyed that the game had been called off.”

Ryan McKechnie was one of those who played for Portland United Reserves and scored in their 2-0 win at home against Chickerell United in the Dorset Senior League.

Browne isn’t concerned about a possible fixture pile up at the moment saying: “We’ve got one other midweek league game in February but other than that we haven’t got any other midweek fixtures that are in the schedule for us between now and the end of the season.

“I’m not overly concerned about a fixture pile up at the moment, if we didn’t have any games over the coming period then that might be a problem.”

Ultimately Browne is hoping that there aren’t many more postponements saying: “I’m hoping that this is just a one off we’ll have maybe one more midweek fixture and we will get through.

“You can’t control the weather unfortunately.”

Portland are next in action at home on Saturday against Arlesford Town who currently are fourth in the league and 11 points ahead of the Blues in 11th.