A FRUSTRATED Steve Castle is trying to look to the positives as the weather continues to disrupt the season. With postponements now starting to stack up it means City will now have to play more games during midweek, and although that is not ideal for part

A FRUSTRATED Steve Castle is trying to look to the positives as the weather continues to disrupt the season.

With postponements now starting to stack up it means City will now have to play more games during midweek, and although that is not ideal for part-time footballers after a day at work it does mean that Paul Hakim will be available to lead the Saints' line.

"There's always that bonus. I've just spoken to Paul and he's got work commitments so won't be involved on Saturday (against Dorchester), but he's said the more games that are called off the better for him because he will be available for midweek games."

Last Saturday's game at Havant & Waterlooville was called off on Friday because of the snow while Tuesday night's Herts Senior Cup tie with Royston was postponed for a third time.

The players were put through their paces in a wintry Clarence Park on Saturday and enjoyed the benefits of another fitness session at Sopwell House on Monday.

The squad are probably looking at another fitness session at Sopwell House tonight (Wednesday) with outdoor facilities still unavailable.

"It's getting frustrating," admitted Castle. "We had a little fun fitness session on Saturday and a fitness session at Sopwell House on Monday.

"The weather is just going on that little bit too long. We're up to date with games it's just keeping everyone's fitness up."

The break does give the club's walking wounded a chance to recover from their knocks with James Quilter (knee injury) and Adam Everitt (hernia) in particular benefiting from the postponements.

"James is waiting on the scan results and Adam, being Adam, I think is going to grin and bear it until the end of the season."

Castle says that City have a point to prove should their game against Dorchester Town this weekend beat the weather.

City crashed to a 3-0 defeat in Dorset on the opening day of the season but since then the Magpies have struggled near the foot of the table while City have pushed on and currently sit comfortably in mid-table and Castle says the opening day defeat was a case of 'three points lost'.

"We've performed better than they have and we were very disappointed with ourselves (on the opening day)," said the City boss. "There were excuses or reasons but having done better than them since we look at it as three points lost.

"They're a well run club but they always seem to struggle which mystifies me.

"They're always competitive and are mainly full-time so they should probably be doing better than they are."

Although rustiness may be a factor for City, it's something all clubs have to contend with and Castle revealed he's tried to organise a back up plan should Saturday's game fail to beat the Big Freeze.

"It affects all clubs," commented Castle. "I've tired to organise a back up game on Astroturf if Saturday's game is called off but the problem is if they can't clear the Astroturf because indoor facilities are like gold dust.