NORTH WILTS YOUTH LEAGUE: A JUNIOR football club has accused the North Wilts League of being "power mad" and "jeopardising chilren's health" after being punished for postponing a match due to a flu epidemic.

Defending champions Purton under 16s were forced to postpone their match with Wrougton at the 11th hour after being reduced to just six fit players due to the widespread bug.

Despite being just one of 36 postponements on Sunday, the league has awarded the points to Wroughton and heavily fined the club for cancelling the match within 48 hours of kick-off.

Furious Purton officials will appeal to the league against the decision and warn they will go all the way to the Wiltshire FA if need be.

Purton Chairman Gary Norman said: "We do not want to force children into playing when they are ill. Schools don't force children into going to school when they are ill, and for good reasons.

"What if the players had played and passed it onto the other team? We would have been putting in jeopardy the health of others, and our children, and I can't believe the league have reacted this way.

"The league itself has admitted the flu bug brought about the postponement of a lot of matches so I don't think it is fair to punish us.

"We did call the game off late but that was because many of the players caught the bug late. We did everything to raise a team, including phoning old players, but it was just not possible.

"I don't mind losing football matches but I think the result should be down to whoever plays best on the day. It should be decided by the teams rather than the FA."

Club secretary Barbara Godsell has described the league's actions as "totally ridiculous."

She said: "In the paper the league has pointed out that teams had cancelled matches because of icy conditions and flu, legitimate reasons. In the next breathe they are condemning and chastising teams for cancelling matches and stating they are going to enforce league rules, which have not been adhered to previously in the season.

"Taking away points from teams cancelling matches because of ill health, is chastising kids for being ill, the league has gone power mad and it is making a mockery of things.

"I am just furious because it has been all over the television about how bad the region has been struck with flu. Surely the league should be showing some sense."

It is thought other teams will find themselves in the dock for postponement's at the weekend although the League were unable to confirm or deny this.

League chairman Kevan Williams, said: "I am without comment at the moment. There is a 14-day appeal process."