The lads are fed up; they want to play – Herbert
● RUNCORN TOWN manager Chris Herbert has expressed sympathy with his “fed up” players after their fourth match in six scheduled games was postponed.
Town have managed just two victories in their last eight games as their promotion bid has stuttered, and Herbert believes it is no coincidence that his side have struggled since their fixtures began to be called off.
“It’s unbelievable – we’re having to train instead,” the manager said after Tuesday night’s encounter at Northwich Victoria fell foul to a waterlogged pitch.
“The lads are all the same – they’re fed up. There’s no games, no-one’s kicked a ball and they’re all desperate to play. We were winning every week when we were playing but then the games got called off and the run stopped. That’s the 10th game cancelled.”
And Herbert believes it is not just the poor weather which is a concern to him.
He said: “It’s the most difficult I’ve known it. We’re just trying to keep on top of the lads but they’re fed up, they want to play football.
“Teams are coming in from other leagues and giving them the chance to play so you’re fighting against that too.”
When talk turns to promotion-chasing rivals Runcorn Linnets, the manager concedes the title might already be theirs.
“Runcorn Linnets deserve to go up, but they’re playing every week. The pitch is good, the ground is good and everything about their set-up is good. I think it’s their year. If we had all our games on I don’t think there’d be any catching us and Linnets but with so many games off it’s difficult to get lads ready for the games.”
But Herbert refuses to rule out being in the top two come the end of the season.
“You’ve got to think you’ll be there. If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it the hard way, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
Weather permitting, Town are home to Ashton Athletic this Saturday, the match at Pavilions kicking-off at 3pm. Runcorn are without a midweek match next week.