DAVID Dunn endured a bitter-sweet day last weekend.

The Bournemouth coach was left fuming after South West Two East basement boys Aylesbury pulled the plug on their league clash at Chapel Gate at 11am on Saturday morning, meaning Lions go into next weekend's crunch game with table-topping Redingensians without a competitive fixture behind them.

But the home walkover did allow Dunn to get stuck into some crucial reconnaissance work in Berkshire ahead of next weekend's mouth-watering encounter.

"It was a very worthwhile and interesting exercise to go and watch Redingensians' game against Henley," said Dunn. "We learnt a lot about them.

"In many ways it confirms what we thought about our approach to the game, but the main thing to come out of last weekend was the disappointment and disruption to our own playing programme by the fact that Aylesbury didn't travel.

"After the debacle of the Dorset and Wiltshire Cup, with the semi-finals being this Saturday, and with the fact that we didn't play against Aylesbury, that means we now go a fortnight without a game and that's not good preparation.

"Quite frankly I think not travelling is inexcusable at this level. We had a match sponsor lined up, Dixon Stewart Solicitors, and they had guests coming to the game and things lined-up. But there was no game to show them and I'm bitterly disappointed for them.

"You can't not fulfil your fixtures - it's not right."

Lions also face another two-week break after next weekend's game in Berkshire, before a potential South West Two East play-off eliminator against Salisbury on April 14.

Dunn added: "It's very frustrating. There's two big games left, both Redingensians and Salisbury, and they will decide our fate at the end of the 22-match league programme.

"Last year we missed out and finished third having lost a last-ditch game against Swanage and Wareham and we'll be doing all we can to make sure that doesn't happen again."