A FIXTURE backlog is taking its toll on Costcutter League champions Cardigan Town who have already conceded the title due to playing three games a week since the start of April and set to continue with the heavy load until the end of May.

The Magpies meet title rivals Newcastle Emlyn and Bargod Rangers in the space of 48 hours this week before another clash with Rangers in the final of Cwpan Coffa Dai Dynamo Davies at Ffostrasol on Bank Holiday Monday.

Steve Blackford and Co should have visited Spar Mid Wales leaguers Kerry on Saturday with a place in the last eight of the Central Wales Cup up for grabs.

But the Magpies felt that a win in Powys would make it even more difficult for them and it was decided to forfeit the tie.

With two teams having fixtures at the weekend firsts manager Seamus Doherty had only a bare eleven players for the game at lowly Felinfach where they let slip two points in a 2-2 draw.

The visitors were twice behind before salvaging a point with goals by Tomos Toft and Liam Doherty but boss Doherty said afterwards it was not enough to retain the title.

“We are playing on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday every week and some of our younger players are also in action on a Sunday for bigger clubs with academies.

“The players are giving it everything and I couldn’t ask for more but there is no time to recover from knocks and the backlog has without doubt cost us the championship.

“I told the lads after the Felinfach game that the league had gone and will in all probability be won by Lampeter Town,” he said.

He added “The lads are out on their feet but we’ve got to play otherwise we won’t complete our fixtures.”