HAMMERS manager Phil Simkin was furious with the referee after Romsey turned up late and won 3-1 following a late kick-off.

Heavy delays on the roads in and around Hampshire and East Dorset meant Romsey's players struggled to get to the County Ground in good time.

But instead of making the visitors start straight away at the scheduled 3pm kick-off time, Simkin claimed the match official was too lenient in giving Romsey more time before getting the game under way.

Simkin said: "Romsey arrived about 3pm and the ref let them warm up for an age before we started.

"We went 1-0 up with a Warren Byerley penalty awarded for handball, but they got two to lead at half time before they got a third.

"We made it 3-2 though an Ollie Cherrett header from a corner but they got another one late on and we lost, which is very disappointing.

"There's no excuse for Romsey arriving late though. It's Bank Holiday Saturday. They obviously didn't leave on time.

"They messed up their preparation, but I think it was 3.25pm before we kicked-off. It was an absolute joke.

"We went to Brock for an evening game last season, got there at 7.25pm and had to kick-off as normal at 7.45pm, so Romsey should have kicked-off on time against us.

"I'm not using that as an excuse for our performance. Our performance was poor, but I find it (the late kick-off) totally unbelievable at this level of football.

"If it happened in a county league football you can understand it, but not in the Wessex League."

Hammers travel to Brockenhurst with the same squad for their league clash today (3pm).

Hamworthy United: Peters, Crow, Gilbert, Cherrett, Walker, Dean, Constable (Claremont 70), Dancer, Cannie (Jackson 75), Byerley, Dovell. Unused subs: Grimason, McCabe.