LIKE many of us over the Easter Bank Holiday, Neil Hart will have been down-hearted to see the unseasonably torrential rain come down on Monday.

But, while the rain put paid to most peoples’ plans on Monday, it also washed away the Turton manager’s hopes of building on a fine win two days earlier.

The Tigers’ long trek to Whitehaven was at least rewarded with three points from a 2-1 victory, courtesy of Sam Knowles thumping in a 92nd-minute winner.

But any chance of getting up a head of steam at title-chasing Blackpool Wren Rovers on Monday fell foul of the constant downpours – typical of how their luck has been all season, says Hart.

“I don’t think the game was close to going ahead,” he told The Bolton News. “Once the rain started in the morning that was that. It’s disappointing but that’s been the story of our season.

“Every time we tried to build momentum on the back of a good result and carry it into our next game we’ve been frustrated, so it’s been difficult to get any runs going.

“It was a really good win for us on Saturday, it’s nice to be on the right end of a stoppage-time winner because, up until that point, we’d been sat in the dugout disappointed to be taking just a point home.

“But we deserved all three points, it was a good goal from Sam, who volleyed home after a corner wasn’t cleared properly, and it’s the best time to score, you know you’ve won it when that happens and that long trip home was a lot sweeter.

“I was pleased with the way we’d started – that’s not easy after such a long journey, but we were in complete control and went 1-0 up through Kieron Sisson.

“We didn’t really press home the advantage though, maintaining pressure and keeping possession wasn’t as good as it could have been.”

Turton did slip up in the second half as Whitehaven enjoyed their best spell, and the visitors conceded an equaliser 25 minutes from time, a free kick leading to a set-piece goal after the home team had been unable to create any opportunities in open play.

Knowles’ late goal, however, means they occupy ninth spot in the Premier Division.

While they will not be directly involved in the shake-up for the title over the next few weeks, Turton do have some big games to come and can at least have some input in where the trophy ends up.

Hart’s men have games against top-six sides Euxton Villa, Slyne With Hest and Blackpool still to come in their nine remaining league games, as well as this Saturday’s fixture at third-placed Longridge Town, and the small matter of a derby with Tempest United.

With a packed schedule – their penalty shoot-out win against Atherton LR in the Hospital Cup means they can still lift a trophy this term – Hart could do without three key injuries to his squad, but that is exactly what he has to contend with over the final few weeks of the campaign.

“Matt Farnworth has damaged the muscles between his ribs,” he revealed. “We thought he might have cracked them but it’s just an intercostal muscle injury. Jamie Welsby has a broken wrist and Jordan Lomax broke his hand during the LR game.

“We’ve also got one or two struggling with stiffness and a few strains, so the squad’s a bit thin and we’re having to manage the best we can. It’s a tight squeeze getting all the games in, we’ll hope to stay free of any more injuries and see how we go on.

“We’ve got some good teams to play but we’re a good team and there’s no reason why we can’t beat these sides. You could perhaps question the players’ mental approach at times but as far as talent and ability goes we’re a match for anyone in the league.”

Tempest were also victorious on Saturday as Nathan Monson scoring in a 1-0 win at Burscough Richmond.

In Division One CMB eased to a 3-0 win at home to Poulton, Will Archer, Callum Yearsley and Dan Crook netting, and Ladybridge drew 3-3 at Furness Rovers in Division Two, Mark Truffas (two) and Benson Johnson scoring.

Bolton County also brought a point home from an away game in the Manchester League Premier Division as Godwin May and Jordan McLoughlin netted in a 2-2 stalemate at Dukinfield.

In the Lancashire Amateur League the only local Premier Division side in action was Horwich St Mary’s Victoria, who lost 1-0 at Mostonians.

Division One side Bolton Wyresdale fared better, with a 3-2 win at home to Hesketh Casuals. Jack Foster (two) and Liam Doherty scored.