Wet weather hampering Saints

Chris Wilson-King scored twice for Southams reserves.

With the Banbury Road pitch waterlogged, chairman Charles Hill made the announcement at 9.30am under a dispensation from the Midland Football Combination management committee allowing clubs to call off matches without the need for a formal referee’s pitch inspection.

The two sides will try again on Tuesday March 4 (7.45pm).

Tuesday’s Birmingham County FA Midweek Floodlit Cup quarter final against Castle Vale JKS was also called off, with the home club having folded and resigned from all competitions.

It means Saints will progress into the semi-final where they will be at home to Atherstone Town, the last team they faced in a competitive match when drawing 2-2 in a league fixture on January 11.

Tomorrow, Saints are due to meet Nuneaton Griff at Banbury Road (3pm), looking to avenge the 2-0 opening day defeat at The Pingles.

With 74 goals, Griff are the league’s leading scorers and will provide a stern test for the Saints defence and new keeper Tom Cross.

On Tuesday, Southam face a trip to Bolehall Swifts in the rearranged Les James Memorial Challenge Cup quarter-final.

There have been no such problems with the weather for Saints’ reserve team, who play their home matches on the Southam College all-weather pitch.

On Saturday, they beat basement club Quinton 7-1, but had to recover from a nightmare start after Tom Drinkwater put the visitors ahead within the first minute.

Chris Wilson-King and Suki Nijjar scored two apiece, with Danny Gordon, Luke Wilson and Joe Williams weighing in with one each.

It was Saints’ final home Stratford Alliance Division One fixture and the win increased their lead over Badsey United to 11 points.

In maintaining their 100 per cent home record, Saints gained the three points needed to guarantee second place and manager Ian Ray will be looking for a maximum return from their last two away matches to heap the pressure on their title rivals.

“We will be going all out to maintain our lead but, if Badsey win all their remaining matches and pip us for the title, then they will deserve to be champions,” said Ray.

Tomorrow, the reserves are at home to PNT Royal Oak in the Nursing Cup (2pm).