Danger meant referee was right to call it a day

Raith Rovers winger Bobby Barr admitted that the correct decision was made to abandon the match at Stranraer after revealing the conditions were the worst he has played in.

The game was called to a halt by referee Gavin Ross in the 37th minute, with the teams tied at 1-1, after torrential rain both before and after kick-off left the Stair Park surface completely waterlogged.

It meant a wasted 300-mile round trip for the Rovers fans, who also had to endure treacherous road conditions due to flooding – but Barr believed common sense prevailed. “It was the right decision,” he said. “I don’t know if the ref was waiting until they scored, but even at 1-0 he should’ve called it off because the water was just lying on the park. It’s probably the worst conditions I’ve played in.

“The park was good, but there was just so much water on it.

“It was getting to the stage where you had to kick it in the air to run with it.

“It was the same for both teams, but it was getting dangerous.”

The abandonment meant Lewis Vaughan was denied his 18th goal of the season, having opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a trademark free-kick.

Stranraer levelled from in the 36th minute through Scott Agnew but by that stage the pitch was completely unplayable.

Raith boss Barry Smith accepted the correct decision was reached, but questioned the timing.

“It was the right decision, but the wrong time,” he said. “The referee has got a difficult job and he’s got to make a decision at some point.

“But for me, from the first minute the ball was holding up. It’s frustrating because I thought we were bang at it today and we handled the conditions up until they scored from a set-piece.”