RADCLIFFE Borough are ready and raring to go should the spell of wet weather relent enough for them to get a game in at Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

Their Lancashire rivals were one of a handful of teams in the Evo-Stik League to play on Tuesday night when they lost 1-0 at home to Colne in the Lancashire FA Trophy quarter-finals.

Boro have not seen match action since December 1, when they lost 1-0 at Burscough in Evo-Stik First Division North, a result that left them just two points and one place above the drop zone.

But assistant manager Dave Powell is confident they will come back fitter and stronger after their enforced break.

“Fingers crossed we finally get a bit of football in this weekend because the lads are certainly ready for it,” he said.

“The Bamber Bridge pitch held up quite well by all accounts, so unless we get another deluge before Saturday then we fully expect to play.

“We have been working hard in training and other than Aaron Walters, who is suspended, we should have a fully fit squad to choose from.”

Powell admits that the absence of full-back Walters, who picked up a red card in Boro’s last match, is a blow.

But he believes they have ready-made replacements in the shape of Omar McKenzie and Jamie Forbes.

And with attacking midfielder Matt Davies pushing for a recall after overcoming the hamstring injury he picked up playing against Droylsden last month, they have a squad capable of causing mid-table Bamber Bridge plenty of problems.

“We have always said that our first team, when everybody is fit and available, have the quality to trouble most sides in this league,” added Powell.

“Our mission, if you like, is to cut out the individual mistakes and take our chances when they come along so we can turn narrow defeats into draws and draws into wins.

“The last couple of weeks could have helped us in a way as it has allowed some of our players who were battling on with niggles to rest up.

“We are also very lucky with the all weather five-a-side pitches we have at the stadium to be able to train during the bad weather.

“It is not ideal as you can’t practice things like phases of play and set pieces, but it does allow us to concentrate on our fitness levels.

“People like Matty (Davies) have been able to use that time to get themselves right, and if we can get him back playing then that will be a major plus for us.

“He was top draw for Boro before his injury and we have missed that creative spark he gives us in the middle of the park.

“And with the festive programme coming up, assuming the games go ahead, then this time off for the bad weather could have been perfect timing for us.”