Garstang boss laments team's luck of the draw

The Riversiders have played just one game over the past three months – a 4-1 defeat to derby rivals Longridge Town – due to the weather wreaking havoc with their fixture list.

However, Crossley could not blame the rain last 
Saturday as a quirk in the West Lancashire League Premier Division fixtures left them without a game.

Ironically, Garstang’s open day fell on one of the driest weekends since autumn.

In a further twist to the tale, Crossley takes his side this weekend to face Hesketh Bank – another club who have had problems with their pitch this winter.

Hesketh’s reserves were due to host Garstang’s second string last Saturday, but the game had to be switched to the Riverside because the club’s Station Road ground was deemed unplayable.

Crossley is keeping his fingers crossed that this weekend’s game will get the go-ahead. He said: “We have had a couple of dry days and I believe Hesketh have been able to tend to their pitch.

“But since then the rain has started to pour again so it might be doubtful.

“Our reserves were meant to play Hesketh reserves at Hesketh last weekend but the pitch was not fit, so they had to switch it to our ground.

“Everything that can go wrong is going wrong.

“Every team managed to get a game except us last weekend and now the rain has started again and we are meant to be playing a team who have not played at home for months. It is frustrating – we just want a game.”

Crossley is set to call upon 50-year-old assistant boss and ex-Lancaster City keeper Mark Thornley, who will fill in for suspended keeper Dan Curwen.