“DUMBFOUNDED” Bradford Town manager Paul Shanley reckons his club are the “only losers” from the Toolstation League’s decision to order them to replay their abandoned clash with Winterbourne United.

Bradford led 6-0 against 10-man Winterbourne on October 15, before the match was abandoned because of encroaching fog with just 12 minutes left to play.

Despite the home side’s all but unassailable lead, the league has ordered a replay on February 18 next year and Shanley thinks his team have suffered an injustice.

“I’m just absolutely gob-smacked. You just want to see some common sense come into it but we weren’t given any reasons why they’ve made the decision,” said Shanley.

“We were 6-0 up, playing against ten men. It’s not like it was 1-0 or 2-0 and if anyone says that it could have led to Winterbourne being relegated, you don’t get relegated in October.

“What happens if we start to get bad weather next year and fixtures start piling up? Winterbourne have just changed their manager too, so who knows what sort of side we’re going to come up against next time.

“I’m dumbfounded. If we can appeal, we’ll certainly appeal but I wouldn’t hold my breath that they’ll change the decision.”

Rule 8.3.3 of the Toolstation League’s regulations states that in the case of an abandonment for reasons beyond the control of either club, ‘the board shall determine the terms upon which any replayed match shall be played’.

League general secretary Mark Edmonds said: “Five members of our board of directors met to discuss the situation and decided that it should be played again.

“All matches must be 90 minutes in duration. Both clubs have been informed of the board’s decision.”

Meanwhile, Bradford are set for the biggest game in their history – according to Shanley – when they go to local rivals Chippenham Park in the second round of the FA Vase tonight (7.45pm).

The Trowbridge Road side have already equalled their best-ever run in the prestigious national competition but despite being a league higher than Park, Shanley insists the clash is a coin toss.

“I know we’re comfortably inside the top ten in the Premier Division and they’ve had an indifferent start to the season but it really is a 50-50 game,” said Shanley.

“They had a good 4-0 win at Hengrove on Tuesday and it’s a cup clash, so there’s no reason why there can’t be a shock. People might think Bradford got a good draw but that’s not the case at all.

“Jake Hiscocks is a massive doubt, Sam Jordan is 50/50 and Matt Minnis, Aaron Cornwall and Josh Ferguson, who ironically joined us from Chippenham, are all cup-tied.”

Melksham Town are also in second round action tomorrow as they host league rivals Slimbridge.

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