STAITHES and Coulby Newham switched home advantage in the hope of staging their much postponed North Riding Cup tie at the weekend – but again, it was all in vain.
Things looked promising going into the weekend but overnight rain made the pitch unplayable, putting the game back yet another week and now making it seven in total.
With all of the league's other fixtures called off, a ground switch that did prov
e productive saw Loftus concede home advantage in their game against Goldsborough.
Despite twice taking the lead, however, Loftus eventually lost 5-2 with Goldsborough's Karl Flatters hitting a hat-trick.
Loftus started well and they took the lead when Ryan Stonehouse rose to head home a corner from Kevin Devereux but within a minute, Goldsborough were back on terms when Dave Swales finished well, firing over the keeper from 20 yards out.
Loftus continued to press and midway through the half, Stonehouse restored their advantage when he fired in a left footed shot from just outside the area.
But three goals in the space of 15 minutes from Goldsborough proved to be the turning point, with Andy Dent turning and firing home on the half hour before Flatters made his mark, scoring twice at the end of the first half.
Goals proved hard to come by in the second half but with five minutes remaining, Flatters completed his hat-trick with the goal of the game.
He picked the ball up in his own half before running through and letting fly from the edge of the penalty area.
