Enforced break suits out of form Blues

Leek Town manager Lee Casswell has admitted that his side’s weather enforced break from Evo-Stik Northern Premier League action couldn’t have come at better time with the Blues currently suffering a dip in form, writes Michael Cope.

A waterlogged Harrison Park led to Saturday’s scheduled home game with Sutton Coldfield Town being called off, their fourth successive postponement, but Casswell remains positive despite their inactivity seeing them drop to fourth spot in First Division South.

Casswell said: "It is frustrating but on a positive note the enforced break has probably come at a good time for us having just suffered a blip in form over Christmas and the New Year. We are still in the top five with games in hand and the lads have responded well in training with good turnouts at our regular Tuesday and Thursday sessions.

"However, the lads need to be playing games and, following the success of the private practice match last weekend, we organised another on Saturday against high flying North West Counties neighbours Norton United who are managed by former Leek striker Scott Dundas.

"Both sides did well on the 3G pitch at Northwood and we were able to give everybody at least 45 minutes playing time. We would like to thank Scott for agreeing to play and hope they do well for the rest of the season – he certainly looks to have put a good side together."

Casswell also revealed on Monday that he’d sent assistant manager Peter Ward to Newcastle Town on Saturday to run the rule over their next opponents, Bedworth United. Ward saw the Greenbacks help themselves to a 3-1 win at the Lyme Valley Stadium, their fifth league success in seven games, to ease their relegation worries.

The Blues manager is expecting a tough game at the Oval on Saturday after the scouting mission and added: "They are in good form after a poor start to their first season in the Evo-Stik [Northern Premier] League so we’re expecting a tough game when the two sides clash at the Oval on Saturday.

"Our commitment in training and the two private practice matches has been fantastic and the lads are looking to get back into playing again in order to regain our previous form."