Gillingham boss Mark Stimson has called for common sense to be used following a wasted weekend for his side.

The Gills travelled to the North West on Friday lunchtime after officials at Accrington felt Saturday’s FA Cup third round match had a reasonable chance of going ahead.

Covers were laid on the Crown Ground pitch to protect it from frost but a snowfall on Saturday morning led to match official Andy Penn postponing the game.

It meant a costly exercise for the Gills and one which Stimson (pictured) felt could have been avoided.

"It’s frustrating," said Stimson. "The powers above said on Friday that there was a little doubt at 11am but at 1pm they said that the game might go ahead and so we travelled up.

"It’s 2010 and common sense is not being used. We spent most of Friday travelling and we were liaising with them. They were saying it might be on as a local referee had inspected the pitch and said there was a chance, but there were freezing conditions and snow forecast.

"When we woke up, the place was covered in snow. There was no chance of a game being on then."

Freezing temperatures overnight had already put the pitch in a precarious state and several inches of snow left Penn with no alternative but to call the game off at around 10.30am.

The third round tie with Accrington will now take place on Tuesday, January 12.