Football: Frustrated Linnets face fixture pile-up

Feb 25 2010 by David Bergin, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN Linnets will be hoping Saturday's game at eighth-placed Glossop North End will take place as the continued cold weather reaps havoc with the Vodkat Premier League fixture list.

The Linnets have suffered six postponements in 2010 and now face 18 games before the final match on May 1. But with no predicted improvement in the weather over the next couple of days, the game will be in serious doubt. Runcorn have only one free midweek between now and the end of the season, with manager Steve Wilkes facing an unwanted fixture backlog after last weekend's game at Alsager was called-off.

“It’s been a very strange year,” said the boss. “I’m looking at the weather forecast and if it gets any worse, they will have to extend the league if it gets any worse”

“But we’re one of the better ones because we’ve played 24 games, but when you look at the likes of Bacup, they’ve only played 19. It is a concern though.”

Following the game at Glossop's Surrey Street (kick-off 3pm), 15th-placed Nelson are due to visit Wincham Park on Tuesday (7.45pm). Linnets, who are 12th in the league, will want to get back to winning ways after three consecutive home defeats, to Atherton LR 2-1, Bacup Borough 3-2 and Woodley Sports 2-1. The team's only victory this year came at Silsden three weeks ago.

And the constant postponements have proved frustrating for Wilkes, whose side have not had a consistent run of games all year.

“Just before Christmas, when we went on a really good run and beat a full-strength Witton 1-0 in the Cheshire Senior Cup, they called off our next two games and we’ve struggled really since we’ve come back. The weather, you could say, has played an important part in our season so far.”

Paul Fildes struggling with a muscle injury, and captain Rob White willmiss the next match due to collecting five yellow cards this season and picking-up a one-match suspension. Chris Blundell may be missth with work.

Full-back Simon Howard has joined fellow Vodkat Premier side Atherton LR.

And Wilkes played tribute to the defender, saying: “Simon joined Atherton last week. He wanted to play football and, obviously, he wasn’t getting in for us and was sub for the last four or five games so we have let him go. He’s a fantastic lad and we wish him all the best.”