CAUSEWAY United manager Andy Mole found his ranks heavily depleted over Christmas and that contributed to some contrasting results.

The Cause battled their way to a 2-2 Boxing Day draw with Boldmere St Michaels.

But that was followed by a hefty 4-0 defeat at home to Westfields.

Mole admitted: “I had seven players missing for the Westfields game and that was too many to compensate for.

“The irony was that we started the game quite well, but then Westfields went and scored four before half-time.

“We rallied in the second half and could have pulled a couple of goals back, but I couldn’t have too many complaints.”

Causeway make the short trip to Gornal Athletic tonight (Thursday), reinforced by the return of Alex Cowley and Jack Pearlman, but then only have one more game when they visit Continental Star on January 11 before their FA Vase trip to holders Spennymoor.