ROCESTER boss Dave Langston will pin up comments from Runcorn Town manager Simon Burton on the dressing room wall ahead of the sides’ rearranged clash in the FA Vase.
The Romans are due to play Runcorn on Saturday in the fourth round of the Vase after the original clash was postponed at the weekend.
And Langston is unhappy with comments made by Burton in a North West newspaper suggesting that Rocester were not a strong opponent.
“They’ve more or less stated they’ll beat us,” fumed the Romans chief. “They’ve said they’ll never have a better chance than playing Rocester.
“Those comments have been printed off and will be used.
“I said we’d probably beat Long Eaton United when we played them, but the comments I made were respectful.”
Hillsfield was frozen over on Saturday and it is likely the clash will again be off come the weekend, with continuing freezing temperatures and the possibility of further snow.
Rocester were drawn at home to either Walsall Wood or Hanworth Villa, who play near Heathrow Airport, when the fifth round of the Vase was drawn on Monday.
Langston is pleased with the last 16 tie as he targets a shot at playing at Wembley.
“It’s another home tie if we get through,” he said. “Walsall Wood have done extremely well to be in it.
“They’re a good young side, very quick and can hurt you with their pace.
“I don’t know a lot about Hanworth Villa, but if they get through will have to travel all the way up from Heathrow.”
Away from the Vase, Langston is concerned with how the cold weather is forcing his Romans side even further behind schedule.
Their Midland Alliance campaign is faltering due to inactivity and it is causing concern.
“I can’t see any games being on for a couple of weeks, including our league cup quarter-final,” said Langston. “We’ve had the snow, which is now turning to ice, and then we’ll get waterlogging.
“We didn’t play many midweeks at the start of the season and we’re looking like playing two games a week between now and the end of the season.
“It might even get up to three games a week and we’ll suffer because it doesn’t matter how young your team is, they can’t play that many matches without it affecting results.
“You still need to train and work on things like set-pieces between games and we won’t get chance to do that.
“It’s a real worry for us.”
