MIDDLEWICH Town are looking to change the date of their postponed Mid Cheshire FA 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, who 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 to discuss future procedures."

Meanwhile, Barnton resume their quest for national honours this Saturday.

Holders Northbank Carlisle will be at Townfield Lane for the semi-final of the Northern Counties Senior Championship (2pm).

They are currently fourth in the Wade Associates Northern Alliance Championships, but are otherwise an unknown quantity to Barnton, who will also be at home if they reach the final.

"I think they will be of a similar standard to us but they won it last year so are no mugs," said assistant manager Mark Warburton.

"But it's at home so we've got a good chance."

Aiden Brodigan will be absent at a wedding in Ireland and Dave Murray will also miss the tie through injury.