CONCORD Rangers boss Danny Scopes admits he was left ‘gobsmacked’ by the National League’s decision to allow fixtures in their divisions to go ahead at the weekend.

The Beach Boys conceded a last-gasp equaliser as they were made to settle for a 3-3 draw against Tonbridge Angels at the Aspect Arena.

The likes of the Premier League, Football League and Isthmian League have suspended their respective campaigns and Scopes was without a quartet of loanees due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Huddersfield Town duo Kit Elliott and Scott High, along with Ben Wells and Nathan Carlyle, who are on temporary deals from Queens Park Rangers, were not given permission to feature in Concord’s National League South stalemate with Tonbridge.

And Scopes felt that emphasised why National League sides should not have been allowed to compete.

“Nathan and Ben got called back in by QPR for nine days, so they are not available for us,” said Scopes.

“Huddersfield wouldn’t let us have Kit or Scott because they’ve been told they can’t go out due to what’s going on.

“We’ve still got them on loan but we’ve just got to wait.

“This virus has hit everybody and the National League deciding to play, whereas everybody in the rest of the world decided not to play, probably didn’t help us.

“I think the National League try to follow suit at times and try to be as professional as the Premier League and Football League as much as possible.

“That’s the right thing to do and I was gobsmacked they didn’t suspend games.

“By not suspending games, you’ve ended up with more than 700 people here.

“They’re trying to avoid mass gatherings but they’ve generated some by not postponing the games, like other divisions.

“I was surprised because it’s people’s health that we’re talking about, but we have to deal with the rules.”

Although former Beach Boys man Ben Greenhalgh put Tonbridge ahead at the Aspect Arena, Temi Babalola and Decarrey Sheriff goals allowed Scopes’ side to turn the National League South contest on its head.

Tommy Wood restored parity, but James Blanchfield put Concord back in front almost immediately.

However, Tonbridge snatched a share of the spoils with Rian Bray’s injury time header.

The leveller sparked a dispute between the two dugouts and Scopes stands by his reaction.

“Tonbridge have a way of playing and they get in the referee’s face,” added Scopes.

“I’m not perfect but being vocal in front of another team’s bench after scoring a late goal is a bit disrespectful. I’d like to think I wouldn’t have done that.

“Some of their comments at the end were not needed and that frustrated me.

“I felt I needed to tell them that and I stand by that.”