WINSFORD United have turned to a psychic in their bid to get some supernatural support on the football field.

Club officials sought the advice of an astrologer in a bid to reverse a string of poor results.

They have buried energising crystals between the posts at Barton Stadium and will give their strikers lucky charms for tonight, Wednesday's, away game.

General manager Ernie Welch met astrologer Raymond Castrogiovanni during an appearance on a cable TV show.

The psychic came to the club, collected information and predicted they would beat opponents Knowsley.

When they did, Mr Welch took the astrologer's advice and buried two quartz crystals in the pitch before the next game against Alfreton Town.

A 1-0 victory followed - with United putting the ball into the net where the crystals are buried.

Official Andy Maylor said: "Some pretty strange things happened. Alfreton scored a perfectly good goal which the referee deemed offside.

"Then the centre-forward had only to walk the ball into the net but he somehow slipped and fell over the ball.

"It was the worst miss I have ever seen. It was so simple my daughter could have scored it.

"Who knows if it was the crystals? Anything could happen at Winsford United."

Mr Castrogiovanni believes the crystals stop the salt beneath the town draining the club's energy.

Putting tigers' eyes down the shorts of the strikers would give them strength when they played at Colwyn Bay, he says.

Mr Welch said: "Mr Castrogiovanni was accurate on a few things about me personally. He knew I had one lad and two girls and he knew I had a blood disorder.

"I am sceptical but if it will help Winsford to achieve success then I will try anything."

They are hoping the psychic's predictions are right - he also predicted the club would win promotion to the Vauxhall Conference in the year 2000.

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