SWINDON Town’s loyal band of 300 or so fans were left bemused and disappointed by the late postponement of their side’s League One clash with Exeter City last night.

Referee David Coote dashed hopes of any action at St James’ Park when he called the game off due to a waterlogged pitch at 6.15pm, leaving a handful of coaches to turn around and make the return trip up the M4 and M5.

And several supporters spoke to the Advertiser to voice their frustration.

One fan, Richard Child, said: “There’s nothing gained, I’m just gutted. Getting here and finding out they’re having a pitch inspection this late. You’d have thought they’d have looked after the pitch all day knowing what the conditions were going to be like, and get the game ahead.

“I’m just annoyed I’ve got to travel all the way back without seeing a game of football, whether it’s going to be a good game or a bad game.

“I’ve experienced it in the past and it’s the same thing, you just don’t want to to through it.

“I wouldn’t say we’re badly treated but I think Exeter could have done more and should have done more to make sure the game went ahead.”

Another group of fans, who came together by car, were confused why the game was not given the green light.

Liam Venables, Steven Hellis and Richard Lowe arrived mid-afternoon in Devon to find the pitch completely saturated, but they believed enough had been done to put a show on for supporters of both sides.

Venables said: “It’s a shame. The pitch was waterlogged at three o’clock but they were working hard on it and at about half five it looked pretty clear so why they decided to call it off I don’t know.”

Hellis agreed with his friend, saying: “I can’t understand why they called it off. The ref wanted to get it on, so I’m just a bit angry and disappointed to be honest.

And Lowe said: “I’m a bit disappointed. We saw the state of the pitch when we arrived here at three and it looked quite bad then, but they were working on it for a good two hours.”