YM don't want to get frozen out as postponements wreak havoc

Tuesday night should of seen a feisty local derby between two top half Southern Combination Premier Division teams in YM and Broadbridge Heath.

Instead, much like the rest of Sussex, a constant temperature of under zero degrees saw pitches turn rock solid and un playable.

Buckland feels that a back log of rearranged fixtures could dent any momentum his squad can build up.

He said: “Tuesday night, the ref made the right call, but it’s not ideal, we really need some steam.

“If we had won that match and gone on to win Saturday then the gap is closed right up and we play much better with momentum.

“We really don’t want to end up having to play, Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Nobody wants that.”

Despite this setback, Buckland is still very much confident as we fast approach the business end of the season with his side sitting in fifth place.

He said: “I have no idea why, but notoriously YM teams have always had a much better second half of the season.

“I’m always talking about injuries in the papers and I don’t want it used as an excuse, but on Tuesday I would of been without several players so a postponement can be turned into a positive.”

YM will be hoping the surface at Gorings Mead beats the weather on Saturday as they host Wick and Barnham in a bid to find that all important momentum.

Broadbridge Heath meanwhile are set to welcome Littlehampton on Saturday, before their RUR Charity Cup semi-final with Newhaven at Culver Road on Tuesday night,

Loxwood manager Mark Beard was left frustrated on Tuesday night as his side travelled to AFC Uckfield Town only for the game to be called under an hour before kick-off.

An official decision on the pitch at Uckfield didn’t come until about half an hour before the match was due to start.

Beard said: “It was expected, everyone saw the weather forecast and I pre-warned the players.

“Sometimes things need to be called off earlier I guess, we were there and ready but the ground was rock hard.

“I’ve already had this week’s youth team match called off to prevent the same thing.”

Moving on from the frozen fixture list that was Tuesday night, Loxwood are now looking ahead at Saturday when they visit struggling East Preston.

The ex-Millwall midfielder said: “ I’ve got a full squad to take on Saturday, with the possibility of one new signing coming in this week as well and Ollie Gill is back fit.

“I have though got five lads playing for Sussex on Sunday in a big cup game so they’ll be on the bench, I don’t want to over do it with them.”

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