Thornton Hibs: Manager Craig Gilbert 'raging' at last weekend's home game against Newburgh being called off

Football’s East of Scotland League was adversely affected, with nine of last Saturday’s fixtures including those involving Fife sides Thornton Hibs, Glenrothes, Burntisland Shipyard and Newburgh not going ahead.

But, in sharp contrast, 19 matches did take place throughout Scotland across the four divisions and Thornton boss Craig Gilbert believes the match official at his side’s home second division encounter against the aforementioned Newburgh was wrong to call off the Memorial Park battle.

“We think that the game was playable and we’re raging at the ref about it,” Gilbert told the Glenrothes Gazette. "I sent the refs’ secretary videos of the park. The ball was running, the ball was bouncing.

"It was wet but it was hard underfoot.

"The ref actually said (during the pitch inspection at 9am on Saturday): ‘It’s playable just now but what happens if it rains later on? We’re not going to take the chance’.

"It never rained the whole of Saturday and it was sunny in the afternoon.

"We maybe should have had a 12 o’clock inspection because we were playing Newburgh. But most of the guys want to know early so they can work or work on.

"I understand that players’ safety needs to be considered when making these decisions. But every time it rains we can’t play football – is that what it comes down to now?”

Meanwhile, Monday night’s fourth round draw for the South Challenge Cup handed Thornton a trip to West of Scotland League Premier Division outfit Troon on Saturday, November 18.

Gilbert’s side, sixth in their league table with 16 points from seven games, make a league trip to 15th-placed Ormiston Primrose this Saturday with kick-off at 2.30pm.

The gaffer added: "People will be expecting us to win this game. We’ve got a much bigger squad this year with young and experienced guys, so it doesn’t matter who we put on the park, it’s a good side.

“We’re hoping to get three points and press teams that are above us.”