ST Helens Town’s game at Atherton LR last Saturday was another loss to the appalling weather.

Assuming conditions improve, they will travel to the Manchester Regional Arena (adjacent to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium) to take on Manchester Northwich Villa in a game that was postponed in November.

Town have now played 15 of their 34 league fixtures and currently lie in 11th place in the in NWCFL Division One with 20 points.

Saturday’s opponents are three places higher with 24 points having played two games more - 17.

However, Town have managed to play only two league fixtures since 31 October, all scheduled fixtures having fallen victim to waterlogging.

However, the largely young, inexperienced side has struggled on heavy grounds against many sides who are much more experienced and who are physically better suited to a battle.

That said, there have been a number of comings and goings in recent weeks and when the weather does eventually relent, they will be able to call upon a number of new and returning players.

Aaron Morris recently returned from half a season at Ashton Athletic and two big centre backs have also re-signed in the shape of Hamish Falconer and Nathan Ogden.

Five teams have still to play Town, namely this weekend’s opponents Manchester Northwich Villa, plus Ashton Town, Bacup Borough, Hanley Town and Whitchurch Alport. Of the other nine remaining fixtures, only two are at home, Stockport Town and Litherland REMYCA.

There will be plenty of time to fit in the remaining matches and a decent run of form should see them challenging for the promotion play-off spots.

Whether or not promotion will be possible remains to be seen, but the real priority must be to finish the season towards the top of the table, in order to secure qualification for the FA Cup next season.

While being the first meeting with Northwich Manchester Villa, Saturday’s is not Town’s first visit to the Regional Athletics Stadium having played at the facility back in 2009 when they ‘hosted’ a Manchester City Legends XI in a game to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the transfer of club President Bert Trautmann from Town to City in October 1949.

The next scheduled home fixture is the following Saturday when Stockport Town visit Brocstedes Park.