GOYTRE Chairman Paul Greenhalgh fears his side may squander their great start to the season when they finally get a game, after Goytre's second scheduled league clash in a row was cancelled on Saturday.

On November 12, their Division Three game with Cwmamman United was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch at the Westerners' ground. Then on Saturday their home tie against Treowen was adjudged to be unplayable at the last minute by the league referee, despite both managers willing the game to go ahead.

Greenhalgh said: "Both teams were at the ground and both managers thought the ground was playable. But the referee said one corner of the pitch was frosty and said that, although he thought it was playable, he was worried that if a frost came up later in the game then someone could get injured. Treowen even suggested the game could start and be called off later on if the frost did materialise."

Goytre have claimed 17 points from their opening ten games and are well placed to make a push for the top of the division with games in hand, but Greenhalgh admits that he is concerned at how his players will respond to the extended lay-off.

"Last year this same thing happened - we missed five games on the trot and then went five or six games without a win when we resumed."

"Last week, Cwmamman contacted us in mid-week to say they had had a lot of rain and that the game might not be played and we accepted that. But it is frustrating not to be playing games, especially after we got off to such a good start.

"Its doesn't look too good for this weekend either according to the weather forecast; we're playing down at Blaenrhondda at the bottom of a mountain and I know they get the rain in the valley."

Greenhalgh added he was disappointed at Saturday's ruling, but accepted that he had to go along with the referee's decision, as the players' safety was paramount.

l PAUL Greenhalgh has proclaimed Goytre's newly opened clubhouse the best such facility in Gwent, and even goes as far to say it could be the best in the Welsh League.

The club's chairman was delighted to announce the completion of the clubhouse, although regretted that after the Welsh FA had inspected it last week; the postponement of the home fixture with Treowen had meant the first 'outing' for the new facility was also delayed.

But he still enthused: "We now have one of the best facilities in Gwent, if not the Welsh League altogether."

And he thanked the bodies of Monmouthshire County Council, Goytre Park Community Council and the Welsh FA for their support - the latter having provided a £9,000 grant for the clubhouse.

Greenhalgh added: "We are very grateful to all the supporters, players and contractors who helped build it and we will be planning an Open Day of some sort for the near future."