THE refereeing crisis which is blighting all sections of local soccer at the moment bites as hard in the Craven District as anywhere, with matches regularly needing to be staffed by team officials to get them played.

Tomorrow the situation will probably impact on the Craven District FA arrangements for the Slater Marchant Cup, with secretary David Town struggling to find enough local officials to take charge of Preliminary and Round One ties.

"If I cannot alleviate the situation there is a strong possibility that some of the ties will have to be postponed to a later date," he says.

"If this is so, it will reflect the serious situation we have in the Craven area and nationwide, where the shortage of people wanting to referee is chronic."

As always, the Craven Cup brings together a wider range of teams than those playing in the Craven League and the tie at Settle United, where holders Skipton LMS are visitors, looks to be one of the most attractive matches on the list - if a referee can be located.

The ties between Earby Town and Barnoldswick Town and Earby v Pendle Athletic, both at Earby, have that added derby flavour, while Ingleton's trip to Waddington should be an interesting affair.

Bentham have been obliged to switch grounds this season to accommodate work on the town's sports fields and they revert to their old pitch for the visit of Embsay.

The draw for the Craven FA knockout matches is:

Slater Marchant Challenge Cup

Preliminary Round: Bentham v Embsay, Gargrave v Rimington.

Round One: Waddington v Ingleton, Settle United v Skipton LMS, Earby v Pendle Athletic, Barnoldswick Barons v Bradley, Kelbrook v Horton, Earby Town v Barnoldswick Town.

Skipton Building Society Norman Pratt Trophy

Preliminary Round: Embsay Res v Barnoldswick Town Res, Cononley Sp Res v Grindleton Res.

Round One: Sedbergh Wand Res v Skipton LMS Res, Bradley Res v Ingleton Res, Grassington Un Res v Waddington Res, Dent Res v Hellifield Sp Res, Skipton T Res v Earby Town Res.

Devonshire Carpets Craven & District League

Premier Division: Grindleton v Oxenhope Recreation, Cross Hills v Grassington United.

Division One: Oxenhope Recreation Res v Skipton Town, Skipton Bulldogs v Carleton.

Division Two: Hellifield Sports v Keighley Lifts Res, Cross Hills Res v McBrides, Ingleton v Intake Res.

Division Three: Oakworth Juniors v Skipton Bulldogs Res, Rolls-Royce v Cowling Res.

Full local soccer round-up on page 31.