AINSTY Panthers have been denied a place in the John Smith's Sunday League Challenge Cup final at the North Riding FA's insistence.

The county's governing body overturned a League decision to allow Panthers to replay their semi-final penalties victory over Acomb WMC after the winners were found guilty of unwittingly fielding an ineligible player in the match.

Jonathan Beech had earlier played in the first round of the competition for Acomb Sports Club but, after they folded, re-signed for Panthers.

At a meeting last month, the league's management committee decided that a replay was the best solution to the matter as Acomb WMC had not followed the correct complaint procedure by sending a written protest to the secretary within three days of the match but Panthers had still fielded an ineligible player.

But Acomb appealed to the North Riding FA who decided that Panthers must now forfeit their place in the final without the second chance of a replayed game.

John Smith's Sunday League secretary Garry Carter said: "Ainsty Panthers played Jonathan Beech unwittingly and named him on their teamsheet. Acomb WMC complained to Mark Jarvis, of the North Riding County FA, and, on his recommendation and in the interests of sport, a meeting was called by our management committee to discuss the matter further.

"It was found that one of the league rules was a little open to interpretation with regard to eligibility. One way was that we should rule in all cases of eligibility and another that we should do so only on protest from an opponent.

"The decision of the committee was to have the game replayed with the reasoning that Ainsty had played an ineligible player, albeit unwittingly, and that Acomb WMC had not followed procedures in putting their complaint in writing to the league secretary. Both clubs were given seven days to appeal to the County FA. Ainsty chose not to. Acomb WMC did.

"An appeal was then heard by the North Riding County FA where the decision of the league committee was overturned and Ainsty Panthers were eliminated from the competition for fielding the ineligible player."

The FA's decision is binding with no further appeals permitted.

Acomb WMC will now meet Severus in the final at a date and venue to be confirmed.

Updated: 10:29 Friday, May 05, 2006