EVESHAM United turn their attentions to FA Trophy duty when they host Halesowen Town in a preliminary round tie at the Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.
The Robins’ players and management will no doubt be pleased to be concentrating solely on football after a tumultuous week on and off the pitch.
Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Mangotsfield United was followed by an epic 4-3 defeat at Cinderford Town on Tuesday, which followed the Southern League’s ruling United would not be deducted any Division One South points over the failure to re-register Brad Maslen-Jones and Kai Tonge after they had signed contracts.
Evesham, who have been fined, have though been booted out of the Southern League Cup after Maslen-Jones and Tonge featured as Evesham progressed past Daventry Town in the League Cup last month. Northamptonshire outfit Daventry have been reinstated and will face Halesowen Town in the first round later this month.
A Southern League statement read: “Bradley Maslen-Jones and Kai Tonge had been registered prior to the start of the playing season as non-contract players.
“The club had registered both as contract players with the FA which was approved on August 7 but the players had not been re-registered as contract players with the league which is a requirement of standardised rules.
“In the case of league matches, this involved six matches in which the club amassed a total of 11 points.
“Following correspondence received from the club, the matter was considered by the league’s emergency committee. The decision was that the case was proven. The club was fined but since the matter related to a player-status issue no points were deducted.
“In the case of the League Challenge Cup preliminary round tie against Daventry Town, following correspondence received from the club the matter was considered by the league’s emergency committee.
“The decision was the case was proven. The club was fined and expelled from the competition. The (Southern) League Challenge Cup rules clearly state that if a player is deemed ineligible then the club will be expelled from the competition.”
Evesham were emphatic 4-0 winners over Mangotsfield on Saturday thanks to Lee Chilton’s hat-trick including an early penalty and a second half goal from Ryan Paddock. The only negative for the Robins was the dismissal late in the first half of Jack Cresswell who was shown a red card following a strong challenge.
Evesham then had new recruits Harry Franklin and Billy Howard on the bench as they headed to Cinderford on Tuesday.
Midfielder Franklin has joined from Redditch United and Howard made a big impression on United boss Carl Abbott when at Quorn, having been promoted from their youth team.
Nobody could have predicted the drama which was to unfold in Gloucestershire as the Robins, now fourth, were beaten 4-3.
James Harding put the hosts ahead before Matt Dodd levelled on 14 minutes from Adam Page’s superb cross.
The hosts were back ahead on the half-hour when Craig Norman netted from close range after Evesham failed to clear a corner and it was 3-1 six minutes before the break when Ethan Moore punished poor defending.
Andy Lewis made it 4-1 just before the break but Paul Sullivan’s first Evesham goal reduced the arrears immediately into the second half with a finish from Brian Smikle’s cross.
It was 4-3 on 57 minutes when former Evesham keeper Andy Hannah’s poor kick went straight to Chilton who netted from 35 yards and both keepers then made numerous saves in a thrilling encounter.
There was still time for one last twist – or not as it turned out – when the visitors were awarded a penalty in the first minute of injury time but Chilton’s spot-kick was superbly kept out by Hannah diving to his left before the stopper then made a goalline save to thwart Chilton’s follow-up header.
