Wet weather causes fixture havoc

Thursday 23rd February 2006

The current wet weather is causing havoc with fixtures at Bromley’s Hayes Lane ground.

Two matches have been postponed this week, with Bromley’s Westview Cup quarter-final tie with Wealdstone and Crystal Palace’s reserve team game with Portsmouth falling victim to waterlogged pitches.

The Ravens’ game with Wealdstone was originally re-arranged for Tuesday, 7^th March, but Ryman League officials have insisted the game has to be brought forward to next Monday, 27^th February.

This will mean Crystal Palace’s reserve team game against Fulham, scheduled for this date, may have to be switched to another venue.

A Bromley spokesman explained: “The Ryman League have asked us to play the Wealdstone tie next Monday, rather than the following Tuesday as originally organised.

“The reason they chose Monday is that Cray Wanderers have a home game (against Horsham) on Tuesday and Wealdstone are playing on Friday, 3^rd March.

“In view of the bad weather, the League did not want the tie to spill over into the next week if at all possible as the two-legged semi-finals are scheduled for March 14^th/21^st.

“The Crystal Palace reserves match has been postponed and may have to be moved elsewhere as there is pressure to get it played sooner rather than later.”

Meanwhile, Bromley could face a Westview Cup Final showdown with local rivals Fisher Athletic, as the semi-final draw was made yesterday.

If Bromley get past Wealdstone next Monday, they’ll meet Worthing or Billericay Town in the two-legged semi-finals, the first game being at home, whilst Fisher tackle Slough Town in the other tie.

The first leg of the Fisher-Slough tie will be played at Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill ground on Monday, 13^th March, and the second leg being played at Stag Meadow, Windsor on the following Wednesday, 22^nd March.

The first and second legs of the other tie will be played on Tuesdays 14^th and 21^st March respectively.

The final will be played on Wednesday, 13^th April.

Bromley’s next game on their pitch, which was relaid during the summer at a cost of around £50,000, is against Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday (3pm).