Sidbury United are without a game this Saturday (March 7) and that’s a source of real frustration for United boss Jeremy Schofield.

United were scheduled to play Topsham Town in a Fresha League top flight match, but because the opposition have two players in the Devon Under-18 squad they are able to call the game off.

Schofield lamented: “It’s a blow given our recent lack of activity (United have played once in the last five weeks), and it’s all the more frustrating that, and it has happened to us in the past, if you miss five, six or seven from your squad for a wedding, you simply have to bite the bullet and get on with it! So losing a fixture because the opposition have two Under-18s on county duty, and at a time when we are seeing a real build-up in fixtures, adds to the frustration.”

United have a dozen more games to play in the Fresha league season and they also retain an interest in two cup competitions with a forthcoming East Devon Senior Cup quarter-final tie.

They should learn their opposition in that cup tie this coming weekend with Willand Rovers and Newtown meeting in Mid Devon. The winners of that will visit Byes Lane. The other last four ties in the East Devon Senior Cup see Thorverton face Feniton, Exwick Villa take on Westexe Rovers sand Elmore host Hatherleigh. It is the winners of that last tie that Sidbury will host in a semi-final should they succeed in their last eight tie.

In the Morrison Bell Cup United have an attractive last eight tie at home to South West Peninsula League side Axminster Town. Also in that competition, Budleigh Salterton meet Sidmouth Town whilst Upottery and Feniton are the sides already in the last four.

Schofield says of a season’s finish that could see his side have to negotiate as many as 18 more games in a ten-week period: “It’ll test us, but that’s life as a footballer with the weather often playing a big part. In an odd way this current lay-off is actually helping us as we are getting long-term injuries sorted and the lads are nearly all playing midweek 5-a-side football so basic fitness is not a worry.”