Eligibility error ends Droylsden´s FA Cup run

Non-league Droylsden were expelled Monday from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player, a move that appeared to set the seal on one of the most bizarre ties in the competition's recent history.

Last weekend Droylsden thought they had won their second-round tie against League Two side Chesterfield at the fourth time of asking.

But it turned out that defender Sean Newton, who scored both their goals in a 2-1 win, was ineligible after collecting his fifth booking of the season on December 9.

According to Football Association (FA) regulations, that meant he was suspended for one match, a ban which should have ruled him out of last Tuesday's fixture.

Now the FA have ruled that Midlands side Chesterfield, whose fourth-tier status puts them two divisions above Manchester-based Droylsden, will play Ipswich Town of the second-tier Championship in Saturday's third round.

A statement issued by the FA Cup protest sub-committee said: “The Sub-Committee ruled that in playing defender Sean Newton against Chesterfield in The FA Cup second round on Tuesday, December, 23 while the player was under suspension, Droylsden FC had breached FA Cup rules and should be removed from this season's competition.

“Chesterfield will therefore play at Ipswich Town on Saturday, January 3 in the third round.”

Droylsden have until 9am local time (0900GMT) Tuesday to lodge an appeal and any appeal will be heard on Wednesday.

An unusual exit would be wholly in keeping with the rest of a tie destined for a place in FA Cup folklore.

The original encounter was abandoned at half-time for fog with Droylsden leading 1-0.

But that was as nothing compared to the events 12 minutes from time in the second encounter at Chesterfield's Saltergate ground.

That game was all square at 1-1 in the 78th minute when Droylsden put the ball into touch deliberately following an injury to Chesterfield's Carl Lamb.

But, after Lamb got back on his feet, the ball was thrown to Jack Lester who, instead of just passing back to the Droylsden goalkeeper, as is the convention in such circumstances, lobbed Craig Mawson for a goal.

Chaotic scenes ensued with rival players squaring up to one another and stewards having to intervene to prevent a confrontation between the rival benches on the touchline.

However, when the game got underway again Chesterfield, seemingly embarrassed by Lester's goal, allowed Droylsden's Steve Halford to run through unopposed from the kick-off to make it 2-2, which is how the match ended.

And the next attempt at settling the tie also failed to produce a winner when a match at Droylsden's ground was abandoned when, with Chesterfield leading 2-0 and under 20 minutes left to play, the floodlights went out.