Mark Sertori has been literally frozen out of York City's big FA Cup clash at Leicester City.

The big defender will miss the tie against the Premiership big guns on Saturday because his one-match suspension will be carried over after City's last two games were postponed because of the weather.

The 33-year-old was due to serve his ban at Cheltenham but that game fell foul of the ice and snow.

The suspension was carried over to today's game against Division Three leaders Chesterfield but when Bootham Crescent failed a pitch inspection yesterday afternoon the knock-on effect was that the vastly experienced Sertori would miss City's prestige game of the season at Filbert Street.

It is a big blow for manager Terry Dolan's preparations as Sertori has been a regular in the City defence and had figured in both Cup games against Reading and the first round win against Ratcliffe Borough.

The two postponements leave City with a growing fixture backlog with dates still to be found to play the home games against Carlisle and Chesterfield and the long trip to Cheltenham.

Several clubs are in a similar position, leaving little room for manoeuvre in the coming months, particularly if City progress in the LDV Vans Trophy.

Their first round tie against Darlington at Bootham Crescent, already postponed twice because of flooding, is due to be played next Tuesday, January 9.

League referee Matt Messias had little option to call off today's game against the Spireites after finding the City pitch frozen yesterday.

The previous day Messias took control of his second Premiership game, Ipswich's 3-0 home win over Tottenham which was screened live by Sky TV.

City will start selling their additional 1,000 Leicester tickets, which are for a section behind one of the goals, from 9am tomorrow.

If they are all sold, the Minstermen will be backed by a mini-army of 3,000, their biggest away support in years.

Cup-tie ticket inquiries should be directed to the club's hotline (York 01904 624447 ex 1).

martin.jarred@ycp.co.uk

Last Updated: 09:13 Monday, January 01, 2001