BOWERS & Pitsea manager Rob Small says this season’s FA Vase debacle has probably cost his side promotion from the Essex Senior League.

Bowers have made history in the Vase this campaign, and have a fifth round tie against Ipswich Wanderers to look forward to on Saturday.

However, their run in the competition has come at a cost. Bowers’ third round tie against Broxbourne Borough was postponed five times due to a waterlogged pitch, while their fourth round game against Sutton Common Rovers was also called off, throwing their league schedule out of kilter.

And, following three weekend’s with no scheduled game, Small’s team now have as many as 10 games in hand on the sides above them, and sit 17 points off the pace having been the favourites to secure promotion come the start of the season.

The fixture pile-up now means Bowers have to play 22 league games in the next three months, not including FA Vase ties or future postponements.

And Small says his side are now planning to throw everything at the FA Vase, and may have to wait until 2016-17 for promotion.

“I believe the FA Vase has cost us the league,” said Small. “We have played 18 games in six months and we have 22 left to play in three months, and that is without any more postponements.

“I see Basildon United, FC Romania and Barking as the three to catch and they are just not dropping points. Last year the league was a bit weaker as well so we have a lot of work to do if we stand a chance.

“The Broxbourne matches have really cost us. To have five postponements is just mad and I think we have left ourselves too much to do. I spoke to the Haringey Borough boss after they beat us to the title last season and they had a very similar season to us before they won promotion. Maybe we need to focus solely on the league next year.”

With £2,500 up for grabs at this weekend’s fifth round tie at Ipswich Wanderers, and even heftier pay-days in the later rounds, the run in the FA Vase has still been of great benefit to those at the Len Salmon Stadium.

Bowers have pocketed £6,600 for their six wins in the competition so far this season, and Small is eyeing a prolonged run in the competition to swell the club’s coffers.

“The prize money has been going up steadily but it is when you get into the later rounds that is starts becoming more significant,” he said. “If we get an away tie at a big hitter like Hereford, assuming we making it that far, then they would have to split the costs and they get over 2,000 people to their matches.

“The money could help us improve our pitch, so we don’t face postponements next season. It is an exciting time and we are hopeful we can achieve something special.”