TITLE-CHASING Pickering Town are facing a fixture backlog after the visit of Long Eaton United was frozen out.

The Mill Lane pitch passed a 9.15am inspection, but the Northern Counties East League premier division fixture was then called off later in the day.

The club are chasing honours on three fronts, with their championship challenge complemented by involvement in the League Cup and President’s Cup.

The Long Eaton game will now not take place until mid-February at the earliest, while the Pikes also have an outstanding game against leaders Mickleover Sports.

Chairman Tony Dunning said: “We are getting one or two games stacking up now.

“We don’t play this Tuesday, but after that we have got three in a row against Arnold, Scarborough and Dinnington.

“It’s disappointing. We did all we could to get the game on. Unfortunately, it didn’t warm up as much as the forecast said it would.”

He added: “We wanted to play. We had a good squad for the game and we would have drawn a decent crowd, but there is nothing you can do.

“You’ve got to accept what has happened and they will now have to come here on a Tuesday night.”

Only one game was played in the NCEL, with Arnold Town drawing 1-1 at home to premier division strugglers Brodsworth.

The point was enough to move Arnold above Pickering into second place, although the Pikes now have a game in hand on their rivals.

Selby’s trip to Hallam was among the casualties and will now be played on Wednesday, February 25.

In division one, Tadcaster Albion’s home game with Yorkshire Amateur has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 17.

Leaders Scarborough Athletic were also thwarted by the cold snap and their trip to Grimsby has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 11.

The entire Blue Square North programme was wiped out, with Harrogate Town’s clash with Burscough called off due to a frozen Wetherby Road surface.

In UniBond League division one north, Harrogate Railway Athletic’s trip to Ossett Albion was postponed.