STAND manager Nick Davis has landed himself in hot water with the Lancashire FA after launching a verbal attack on the match referee before Tuesday's game at home to Squires Gate.

Stand had their 19th home game of the season called off but Davis didn't agree with the ref's decision.

"The pitch was cut and rolled and I was stood on the pitch with shoes on and he said it was waterlogged. Daisy Hill thought it should have been played as well. There were 60 people in the ground and the ref was the only one who thought the game should be called off.

"I told him what I thought and he said he was going to report me."

NWCL Division Two table toppers Stand face Bacup at home tomorrow - as long as the pitch is deemed fit.

"Bacup will be up for it, it will be a passionate game because where Brent Peters is involved it always is. We will need to play well because we have learned that when we don't we get beat like we did against Bootle and Nelson.

"But if we play like we have done in the last two games there shouldn't be a problem."

Stand hammered Norton 6-0 last weekend and beat Stone 3-1 the week before that.

Top striker Chris Denham is suspended for tomorrow's game.

"It's a big game for Stand but not for us," said Bacup manager Brent Peters. "It will be a tough game but the only difference between Stand and us is that they have got quality players who score goals.

"We have dominated games but haven't been able to finish teams off. They've got quality in every position and so have we but we have a little bit of inexperience up front.

"But hats off to them, nobody will catch them and they'll go up as champions."

Bacup hope to give a debut to former Burnley Boys Club striker Paul Hodgson, who has not played since his move due to two postponed matches.

Bacup haven't played since their 7-0 defeat against Squires Gate. "If we play tomorrow like we did that night we'll get a good hiding but I think that was just a blip."