BOTH managers agreed that referee Brendan Malone had made the correct decision to abandon the Newport County AFC v Morecambe League Two clash at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch at Rodney Parade.

County led 1-0 thanks to Tom Owen-Evans’ superb volley into the top corner after 26 minutes.

But the 19-year-old’s first goal in the Football League will be wiped from the record books as the rain continued and the surface water refused to drain away.

It means County stay bottom of the League Two table – four points from safety with a game in hand.

Exiles boss Graham Westley joked: “Premier League managers moan at having to play 38 games a season; when you’re Newport County manager you have to play a 138 games because apparently a lot get cancelled at half-time.

“It is what it is, the game is off and there’s nothing we can do about it.

“I thought the first half of football was as good as we’ve been for a while.

“We were intelligent on the surface, we competed well and we scored an unbelievable goal.

“It’s a sickener for Tom – he’s sitting in there with his head in his hands.

“He can’t believe it’s happened to him but he’ll score plenty more and plenty like that.”

Westley added: “If the ball got stuck in one of those difficult areas and you conceded a goal because of it then you’d feel pretty aggrieved so in that respect you’d have to be honest and say the right decision was made.”

Morecambe manager Jim Bentley felt conditions were dangerous.

“The referee has had no choice really,” said the Shrimps boss.

“There was certainly a broken leg out there, if we weren’t careful. You could see in areas that the ball was not rolling.

“The referee has to think of the players’ safety – there were a few tasty tackles going in, a couple of bookings and scuffles, it was a proper battle.

“I would not mind being out there myself, it was quite tasty.

“Their kid’s goal is an outstanding strike but it was not playable 20 minutes in. It was the right decision.”