Fixture backlog looms

FROZEN OUT: The scene at Oldham Boro

SNOW and ice brought frustration to the local non-league scene on Boxing Day.

The derby duel between Oldham Boro and Chadderton was postponed after a 10.30am inspection at the Whitebank Stadium and Mossley’s home match against Curzon Ashton was also called off after underfoot conditions at Seel Park were deemed unfit for play.

Boro manager Tony Mills said: “It was very disappointing, but we can’t legislate for the weather.

“Our secretary Dave Shepherd made the decision after we were given a directive from the Vodkat North-West Counties League to postpone the game if there was deep snow on the pitch.

“We haven’t got a match this weekend, so we’ve arranged to play Avro, from the Manchester League, next Wednesday night at home, but only if the weather improves.”

Chadderton entertain Stone Dominoes on Saturday, but prospects for the division one clash are already bleak with the cold weather forecast to continue.

The Broadway outfit have played only two competitive games since the end of October - a 3-2 defeat by Holker Old Boys in the league and a 1-0 win over Rochdale Town in the First Division Trophy.

Chadderton are readying themselves for a congested fixture programme in the New Year and manager Paul Buckley reckons the situation is bound to get worse.

He said: “It’s madness, we’ve only played 11 league games, and we’ve still got January and February to come.”

The Chadderton players still managed to get some exercise on Saturday. Instead of putting their feet up in front of a warm fire, they decided to work off some of the Christmas excess with a training session on a snow-covered Broadway.

“We did some running and then had a snowball fight,” added Buckley. “Everyone had a good laugh, so in that respect it was good for team morale.”

Mossley had two bites at trying to play Curzon Ashton in UniBond League division one north.

A frozen pitch put paid to the first attempt on Boxing Day, so both sides and the league got together and agreed to have another go yesterday in the hope of a thaw.

Unfortunately, some parts of the Seel Park surface were still frozen, while other areas were waterlogged where a partial thaw had set in.