Casswell keeps Blues ticking over

Leek Town manager Lee Casswell beat the weekend's arctic blast to train his squad and keep the momentum going after their back-to-back Evo-Stik Northern Premier League victories, writes Michael Cope.

After winning 1-0 at Stamford and beating Market Drayton Town 3-0 at home in their last two Evo-Stik NPL First Division South outings, a frustrated Casswell turned to alternative training facilities at the Northwood Stadium on Saturday to keep his squad ticking over after a snowbound Harrison Park saw their match against Coalville Town postponed.

Subject to the weather, Leek are due travel to Market Drayton Town on Tuesday in their reverse league fixture before a second trip to Chasetown at the weekend in their push for a play-off spot. With most local sports facilities already booked or out of action due to snow and ice, Casswell said he was more than happy to fit in a two-hour session in the Potteries to combat the enforced break.

He said: "It's difficult to keep the squad motivated in these conditions and just as hard to find alternative venues for training. However, we had a good turnout on Saturday at Northwood when we used the facilities to freshen things up. We are now getting further behind in our fixtures but we have to get on with it and when the weather breaks the lads will be up for it."

The disruption has had one positive effect in easing Casswell's injury worries. "One benefit the enforced break brings is more time for our injured players to recover and it looks like all three of our long-term casualties will be ready for action by the time we play our next game," he added.

* Leek have announced that three of their outstanding home games will be played during March - Loughborough Dynamo on the second, Stamford on the 19th and Belper Town on the 23rd.