Chester: Grounds for a switch after Skem hopes for pitch go down drain; Moore & Co North West Counties.

Byline: by DAVID BASSETT

SKELMERSDALE UNITED face the prospect of having t o play some of their remaining home matches this season away from their Statham Road ground.

Continuing drainage problems at their new headquarters, which they moved into at the start of the season, have hampered Skem.

And plans are in hand t o replace the playing surface in an attempt to finally bring the problem to an end.

But managing director Arthur Gore explained that no final decision has yet been made as to when the work will start.

'Obviously, we will play as many games as we can at our own ground,' he said. 'But if the work starts around the beginning of April, then we willhave about five games to switch, and if it is later then obviously there will be fewer to move.

'It all depends on when the remedial work on the pitch starts, and that hasn't been finalised yet. The work does need doing and a scheme of work is being discussed at the moment.'

Gore said that the preference is to seed the pitch. 'All the experts say that seeding is better than turfing, so that's the probability, butagain the timescale dictates that.

'I think we will need to start the work well before the summer because if we are to start playing again there next season and get some preseason games in, we are talking the middle of July for it to be ready to be played on.

'So the timescale is pretty critical. Hopefully, we will know something in the next week or so.'

Any switched games are likely to be played at Burscough, where Skem were tenants last season while their new ground was being built.

St Helens Town will be playing one of their home games away from Knowsley Road today.

Town will face Curzon Ashton at Prescot Cables' Valerie Park ground because of Rugby League commitments.

Formby take on First Division leaders Fleetwood Town at Altcar Road on Monday afternoon, hoping there is norepeat of the goal blitz that hit them in the last meeting between the sides in September.

The Squirrels were trailing 1-0 at Fleetwood with just seven minutes remaining but then conceded four more goals in a disastrous end to the game which saw them crash to what is still their joint heaviest defeat of the season.

Cammell Lairds will play Flixton in the final of the Division Two Trophy at Trafford FC next Thursday.

Lairds are in cup action again next Saturday when they are away to First Division leaders Fleetwood in the first leg of their League Challenge Cup semi-final.

The second leg is the following Saturday, April 9