PICKERING TOWN are staring down the barrel of expulsion from the NCEL League Cup after an administrative error saw them field an ineligible player.

Midfielder Ash Hope, signed at the start of October, appeared in Selby Town’s first round game against Westella VIP and was then fielded by the Pikes in their 2-0 third round victory at Glasshoughton Welfare.

Chairman Keith Usher stated that Pickering did not request details of Hope’s participation in any cup competitions from Selby’s secretary and that the player did not make known his restrictions.

Usher expects Town to be disqualified from the competition and to receive a fine, to be decided in the NCEL’s meeting later this month.

“I was the first person to hear about it,” Usher said. “I was in York at the time when I read the email, and I was very, very disappointed because it was a hard-fought game at Glasshoughton.

“It’s embarrassing for the lad himself.

“He’s let his colleagues down in a way, because he must have known that he had played for Selby. The general rule is that when he is signed the club find out about his cautions and if he’s played in any cup games."

Manager Paul Marshall, who had made known his desire to progress in the League Cup, defended his player: “It’s annoying. Ash totally forgot, it was that long ago. He only played four or five games for Selby at the start of the season and one of them was a League Cup game and he didn’t know.

“Most seasons it’s one of your lesser competitions but this season it was a little bit of priority, but it’s gone now.”

Marshall’s side surged past Clipstone 3-2 last weekend and rose to seventh thanks to Nathan Kamara’s late strike.

Kamara came back into midfield against Clipstone and Marshall singled out the former York City trainee for his attitude. He said: “Kammy’s decent in the air as well so we thought we’d just mix it up a little. It worked and he fully justified his place in the team.

“He gets a lot of grief does Kammy, he tries his hardest and gets a lot of grief for it. Then he popped up with the goal. That’ll keep a lot of the critics quiet.”

As attention turns to the league, the Pikes will be hoping for their third consecutive victory when Staveley Miners Welfare visit the Recreation Ground tomorrow.

In the midst of five consecutive home games, the former Tadcaster Albion chief underlined the importance of reaping the home advantage: “It’s about trying to maximise what we get out of these home games and we’ve got six points from the first two," he said.

“If we can get points from the next three I would be quite confident of finishing in the top six. Beating Garforth kept them way below us and winning this week we start to move forward. To win next week would consolidate and get a chance to get a little bit higher.”

Ryan Cooper will serve the last game of his ban following a sending off against Handsworth Parramore, while Peter Lawrie will be in contention for a return between the sticks.