THE NWCL Division Two Cup round one replay between Daisy Hill and Atherton LR has become the cup tie that no one wants.
The game to decide a victor after the two clubs drew 2-2 in the initial meeting at Crilly Park has now been postponed so many times that no-one is now keeping count.
Not only that, but the competition rules mean for the LR camp that the tie is almost an impediment to the forward progress team boss Alan Lord has managed to make over the last month.
Rovers secretary Steve Hartle explains: "In order to participate in the replay, players had to be registered five days before the original tie. That was way back in November and even then it was postponed until December. "With Alan Lord having taken over in the meantime we have had a massive turnaround of players. It leaves us with just four eligible who have featured in the first team squad recently. The league says we have to abide by this ruling. We have even offered to just give Daisy a bye but they won't let us do that either.
"Now with the game being off again last weekend it will have to be rescheduled for a Saturday as Daisy have no lights, so that is yet another league game which will be switched. We already have 24 fixtures to fit in somewhere before the end of the season so it just adds to the headache."
The latest postponement adds to the frustration for Lord as he has made massive strides in putting the club back on an even keel after the dire situation they were in when he took over, but he intends using the game for good purpose.
"Malc Anderton, our reserve team manager, has done a cracking job this season," he says. "Rather than interfere with the side he has put together at the club by including the four players who are eligible I am going to let him field all his own players. It will be a really good test for them, they can show me what they can do and it's a tribute to Malc." From the Daisy point of view assistant manager Brian Smith commented: "We've every sympathy with LR over this and no one seems to know what is right or wrong. Obviously we'd like to play their first team and if we go through it's on merit, but if they have to send their Reserves then so be it. If that's the ruling then we'll play whatever side they send down to us."
In the meantime it's back to the league programme with LR set to entertain Alsager tomorrow and Daisy facing a difficult away test at fourth in the table Squires Gate.
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