POSTPONEMENTS are coming at the wrong time for Selby Town boss Dave Ricardo.

The Robins, like many other sides across the Northern Counties East League's two divisions, have had their fixture lists affected over the last few weeks as pitches have been turned into quagmires by heavy rain.

With the Christmas period about to get into full swing, the Flaxley Road chief is also expecting to have to shuffle his squad around with unavailability and work commitments always proving an issue for a couple of weeks.

Ricardo's frustrations are borne from his side having been in their best form of the entire season prior to the disruption. On a run of three straight victories - most recently a 2-1 win over Westella VIP - Selby haven't tasted defeat since the end of October.

A good Festive run, starting with victory over Teversal tomorrow in NCEL division one, will see his side elevated into the top half of the table and, after dealing with a leaky defence that blighted the beginning of the campaign, the Robins' chief would see that as progress going into the New Year.

"Christmas has come at the wrong time," he admitted. "We have had postponed games going back six weeks and we did seem to have turned a corner in terms of performances and results.

"The weather has come at a bad time but it is the same with a few clubs. Teversal will be a tricky game. They don't lose too many but they don't win too many either. We have got a game in hand and if we beat them we will go ahead of them.

"Realistically, if we can win two games before the New Year we could be in the top ten. Boxing Day's match against Knaresborough is a huge game but six points from the next two could put us into the top ten and that's what we have been after.

"We could then be six or seven points off the play-offs. That's nothing with 22 games still to play. The most important thing at this time of year is keeping the players interested. There are a lot of work pressures and family pressures and there are many opportunities to go out and have a good time.

"To keep players focused and keep them interested at this time of year is half the battle. Teams that are able to do that better than others will reap the rewards."

Ricardo will be without Chris Jackson and Jamie Forrester, who will be turning out for Goole Town and Scarborough Athletic respectively, but he welcomes back Craig Muirhead and Martin Jones.

He is also awaiting international clearance for Jordan Day, who has returned from the United States for a couple of months.

Elsewhere, Pickering Town travel to Cleethorpes in the premier division, while Knaresborough Town go to Penistone Church in division one. In Evo-Stik League first division north, Scarborough Athletic go to Droylsden and Harrogate Railway host Ossett Albion.

In National League North, Harrogate Town take a trip to Stalybridge Celtic.