WHILE not exactly at crisis proportions just yet, the continued postponements for rain, ice, frost and now rearranged Trophy ties are beginning to cause a little concern within the ranks at the Portway Stadium.

Lions’ home match with Bridgwater Town never had the remotest chance of going ahead on Saturday and Swindon Supermarine’s FA Trophy tie at Uxbridge went the same way meaning they tried again on Tuesday, thus killing off Wednesday’s Southern League Cup match. If that wasn’t enough they still have to fit in a North Hants Senior Cup tie and a Russell Cotes Cup tie, both with New Street at some point and it is looking like there will be very few vacant midweeks between now and May.

Happily Supermarine won 6-1 at Uxbridge, who had three players, plus the manager, sent off before half-time, including Mark Nicholls, who lasted just 25 minutes.

As far as can be certain the next matches are: Tomorrow - Cinderford Town away, Tuesday night Taunton Town at home, Jan 24 Gosport Borough at home and Wednesday, Jan 28 is Swindon Supermarine away in the Southern League Cup. Then it is Abingdon United away on January 31 and North Leigh away on Tuesday, February 3.

The tough run continues with a home match in the league with Cirencester on Feb 7 before the long awaited Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final with Eastleigh on Tuesday, Feb 10. There is now added incentive in that match as the County FA announced this week that the final will be back at St Marys Stadium after a break when it was played at AFC Bournemouth. With the Dorset side quite possibly being a non-League outfit by the match day, which is Thursday, April 30, it is a bonus for everyone that the final has at least come back to Hampshire.

Full story in Friday's Advertiser