ROSSENDALE United's promotion hopes could be hit by a triple whammy.

The high-flying Dark Lane side are suffering from a fixture pile-up due to the petrol crisis and Weather -- and now possibly the foot and mouth outbreak.

Dale, now up to fifth place in the NWCL Division One, are currently unbeaten in 18 games. But they have been hit more than most, and the stop-start season could see them playing three times a week before the campaign it out.

Manager Jim McCluskie said: "We are all in the same boat and no-one is to blame but it seems like we are never going to finish the season. We're winning games and scoring lots of goals but we can't seem to string a couple of matches together. It seems like we are always playing catch-up."

McCluskie admitted that it is difficult keeping his players' minds on the job -- and the monotony of training every week without playing on a Saturday is taking its toll.

But after Tuesday night's excellent 2-1 win against second-placed Fleetwood Freeport, McCluskie said that confidence on the pitch is high.

"We've now beaten St Helens, Prescot and Clitheroe who are all above us but we need to get the games in now. We are in a great position to mount a challenge but with 60 points still up for grabs there is still a lot of football to be played."

Weather permitting, Rossendale welcome Cheadle to Dark Lane tomorrow. They are without the suspended Jerome Fitzgerald and Paul Lynch while John Borland has a hamstring injury.