MIDDLEWICH Town are looking to change the date of their postponed Mid Cheshire Saturday Cup semi-final with Barnton.

The original tie was scheduled for Saturday but was called off at 9.30am because of a frozen Townfield Lane pitch.

But because Barnton are representing the Cheshire FA in the National Counties Championship this Saturday, the re-arranged game will be played a week later.

However, this leaves Middlewich without Joey Roberts and Ryan Broadhead for the tie, as they start seven-day suspensions on Monday.

Middlewich manager Terry Murphy said: "I'm disappointed that we'll have two players missing on that date when they would have been available for Saturday.

"I don't know if anything can be done. We'll ask the Mid Cheshire FA for another date.

"I think it was a bit early to call the game off. Players are only coming from Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich anyway so it could have been left until 1pm.

"I'll be very short of players a week on Saturday because we don't want to rule any of the reserves out of the final."

Barnton chairman Peter Harrison admitted his surprise that the game was called off as early as it was.

He said: "We had committee members at the ground who tried to contact three different referees but couldn't get in touch.

"Also, we didn't know where the referee for the game was coming from so they had to make a decision there and then.

"If I had been able to get there on Saturday morning I probably would have left it longer. A decision had to be made but a lot of people thought it was too early and I was one of them.

"We will be having a meeting tonight (Wednesday) to discuss future procedures."

The fact that Middlewich Town Reserves, thanks to Saturday's 1-0 win at Lostock Gralam, are awaiting Town in the final gives the Barnton game extra significance.

And in another twist to the tale, Barnton's hopes of signing Paul Hennin have been dashed because Murphy now needs him to cover the suspended players.

Hennin has been unable to play for Town because of other commitments since September and he was about to go back to Barnton before Murphy called on him for the cup.

Although an all-Middlewich final is an intriguing prospect for everyone at Seddon Street, the first team have to concentrate on getting three points in their Mid Cheshire League Division One game this Saturday.

Knutsford, now in second place behind Town, are the visitors to Seddon Street (3pm).

They lie nine points behind Middlewich with three games in hand after overtaking Barnton with a 4-0 win at Padgate.

Murphy said: "They need a win and we need a win. In fact, we need to win all our games if we're going to win the league."