Blackfield ready for rescheduled FA Vase tie (From Daily Echo)

Blackfield ready for rescheduled FA Vase tie

8:58pm Sunday 20th January 2013 in Non League

BLACKFIELD & Langley are hoping the postponement of Saturday’s big FA Vase last-32 tie at Bemerton Heath Harlequins will work to their advantage.

One, and possibly two, players who wouldn’t have been available on Saturday could be back in contention when the sides try again at Bemerton’s Western Way ground on Wednesday (7.45pm).

Blackfield co-assistant boss Glenn Burnett said: “We wouldn’t have had (winger) Paul Preston on Saturday, but he’s back available on Wednesday which is a good thing because he’s capable of changing or winning a game.

“We were also without defenders Maurice Stuart and Mike Byrne on Saturday with hamstring trouble. Maurice won’t be fit. He’s seeing a physio and it looks like he may be out for two or three weeks.

“But Mike’s hamstring just tightened up and he could well be okay.”

While the vast majority of the postponed Vase matches have been rearranged for Saturday, Bemerton and Blackfield agreed it was best to try and get it played as soon as possible.

“Clubs are already behind with their fixtures – especially Blackfield, so because it’s a local tie we’ve rearranged it for midweek to give ourselves every chance of getting it on,” explained Harlequins secretary Andy Hardwick.

“We normally play our midweek games on a Monday night, but the Wiltshire FA have booked a room in the clubhouse for a disciplinary hearing. But, with the weather as it is, I don’t think we’d have stood a chance of playing it on Monday (tonight) anyway.

“There were five inches of snow on the pitch on Saturday and it’s still frozen round here. We’ll get a better idea tomorrow if we can go ahead with it on Wednesday.”

Newport IoW’s fourth round showdown with Northern Counties East League side Brighouse Town was called off early on Friday to spare the West Yorkshire club a long and costly wasted journey south.

It has been rearranged for this Saturday (January 26, 3pm) at St George’s Park.