Huntingdon have dropped to the bottom of the United Counties League Premier Division table for the first time this season – and boss Bob Warby fears his players are being burned out.

Town have played 14 games in a season which is only two months old and are scheduled to complete 34 fixtures by the turn of the year.

Speaking in the wake of a 6-0 defeat at unbeaten Northampton side Sileby Rangers last Saturday, Warby feels the tough schedule is taking its toll. He is also led to believe that attempts to change it have been unsuccessful.

Warby said: “What I saw in the Sileby game left me genuinely thinking we are exhausted.

“I believe it has got to the point where the relentless run of fixtures is taking it out of the squad. Several of the boys are running on empty.

“We are due to play 34 games before December 27, leaving just 13 fixtures in the half of the season between January and May. It is stupidity of the highest order.

“We rarely have games called off at Jubilee Park and yet we are expected to pack what is the equivalent of a full season for some teams into just four months for no reason other than a bit of snow a few years ago embarrassed the UCL.

“We have already played more games than most teams in the Premier Division and I’m determined to ensure that we aren’t left chasing our backsides in 2017.

“I’ve asked our secretary if we can move fixtures, but I gather it is not possible.

“Last Tuesday at Eynesbury every player in a depleted squad bust a gut for the cause, but a few days later at Sileby and we couldn’t get close to that level.”

Huntingdon were pipped 2-1 at high-flying Huntingdonshire rivals Eynesbury, with Jamie Waterworth halving their arrears in stoppage time at the end of the second half.

But they couldn’t recapture that level of performance when well-beaten at Sileby. They were two goals adrift at the break and later conceded three times in the space of nine second-half minutes.

Games continue to come thick and fast for Town, starting with the visit of Peterborough Northern Star tonight (Wednesday, 7.45pm).

Town claimed their only league victory of the current season when beating the same opponents 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in August.

They would dearly love another positive outcome tonight ahead of a Saturday trip to Oadby Town.

Warby added: “The league table doesn’t lie, but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it at this stage of the season.

“I retain belief we have the potential to climb it.”

Defender Jordan Gault has moved to Thurlow Nunn League First Division side Wisbech St Mary after Warby waived a seven-day approach.

Huntingdon have drafted in Luke Burton, a central defender or defensive midfielder, who captains the Bedford College team.