Barkingside left frustrated as midfielder’s suspension lingers on.

BARKINGSIDE midfielder Billy Mole has been eager to finish his three-game ban, and it is a frustrating time for both the player and his manger Tony Fenn.

Mole was sent off in the Essex Senior League Cup game against Clapton, but has only served two games of the suspension and has been waiting in anticipation for the third and final match, only to be denied by the weather on several occasions.

“A three-game ban can sometimes only take a week or so, but at the moment this one has taken four of five weeks with a game still left to serve,” said Fenn.

“It is a frustrating time for Billy and he is disappointed he cannot get back into action, not through injury, but through the ban, but you cannot do anything about the weather. It would be nice to have him back as well.”

Barkingside have not been in action since their 5-2 lost at home to Enfield 1893 in the Essex Senior League and the Oakside boss doesn’t rate their chances for a return this weekend against Bowers & Pitsea in the league.

“Their (Bowers & Pitsea) secretary has sent across some pictures and it is still covered in snow, and at the moment I cannot see it being on realistically,” he said.

“It is disappointing to have all these games called off as we can see it resulting in another fixture pile-up towards the end of the season.”

The weather has not only affected the matches, with training sessions very limited even on their Astroturf pitch having to be called off because of the frozen surface.

“It has given a couple of the players time to get over injuries, but on the whole it is frustrating,” said the ’Side boss.

“With this sort of break we have had, the players are going to lose fitness, and although that can be worked on, they need to have games in order to get in back in the swing of things.

“You have got to think about the club as well, with little money coming in because of no fixtures, plus with the fact we have only had two home league games all season, it all begins to take its toll.”

After Saturday’s game, Barkingside are due to face Barking on Wednesday in the rescheduled league game, which was called off on Monday night.