POSTPONING last Saturday’s Vanarama Conference North derby against Bradford Park Avenue will hit Guiseley in the pocket.

But, although the re-arranged date of Tuesday, February 24 will not attract as many through the Nethermoor gates, the Lions boss Mark Bower reckons the call-off might be a blessing in disguise.

“It will affect us financially,” admitted Bower, “but it has given the squad a chance to have a rest, and we aren’t that pushed in terms of midweek fixtures.

“Wayne Brooksby would have been a 50-50 call after a hamstring injury, Gavin Rothery picked up an ankle injury against Tamworth, Oli Johnson has played a lot of matches recently compared to last season and has a hamstring injury, while Ryan Toulson is only just returning after a gashed leg.

“You won’t get as many people turning up on a Tuesday as on a Saturday, particularly with Bradford City being at Yeovil last weekend, but it may have been a blessing in disguise in terms of giving players more rest and freshening them up before Saturday’s difficult trip to Boston United.”

Finances apart, the chief problem for Bower has been the two victories apiece by leaders AFC Fylde and second-placed Barrow since Guiseley last kicked a ball in earnest in their 1-0 defeat at third-placed Tamworth on Saturday, January 10.

“That has been a little but frustrating,” conceded Bower, “but we aren’t troubled by fixture congestion yet like we were last season, when we had a lot of games called off in January to March.”

The bad weather has meant that Adam Boyes’ three-match suspension still has a game to run for Guiseley.

The Lions have re-arrange their home game with leaders AFC Fylde for Tuesday, February 10, kick off 7.45pm.