PLAY-OFFS: Bretton North End promotion thrown into doubt by ineligible player claims

Bretton North End's third successive Peterborough League promotion is in doubt after they were accused of fielding an ineligible player.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2016, 18:33 BST
Updated 18th May 2016, 19:40 BST
A flashpoint in the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.A flashpoint in the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.
A flashpoint in the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.

The city side thought they had won promotion to Division Two after beating Eye United 5-0 in a promotion play-off match last night (May 17).

But Bretton fielded Calum Parker in their starting line-up at Lindisfarne Road and it’s understood he did not play enough league games to qualify for a play-off appearance. League rules state eight league games must be played and Parker played just once in the regular season.

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Eye are unlikely to benefit if the allegation is proven though. They have also been accused of fielding an ineligible player, namely Andrew Buckle who appeared just three times in the regular season.

Action from the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.Action from the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.
Action from the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.

A league disciplinary panel will decide on both teams’ fate early next week. Bretton are thought to have requested to appear before that panel.

It’s likely Stamford Lions Reserves will be promoted from Division Three alongside Tydd St Mary who beat them 4-1 in their play-off clash last night.

If Bretton are punished it will be harsh on Fernand Bass who scored a hat-trick against Eye. Kenny Martin and Arfan Arif also scored.

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Scorers for Tydd, who finished seven points behind third-placed Lions, were Maxwell Burrell, Timothy Lowe, Andrew Cook and Scott Pemberton.

Action from the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.Action from the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.
Action from the play-off match between Eye United (green) and Bretton North End. Photo: David Lowndes.

Because of the re-structuring of the league there was no need for a play-off final at Division Three level.

That’s not the case in Division Two where Spalding Town won a tense semi-final on penalties against Ketton Reserves after a 1-1 draw. Spalding now take on Peterborough Polonia in the final at Yaxley FC on Saturday (May 21, 2pm).

Polonia received a bye to the final as Whittlesey Athletic A, who finished in a play-off place, cannot be promoted as the club’s B team is already in Division One.

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Scott Burrell fired Spalding ahead last night before Ketton equalised in the second half.

RESULTS


CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

Division Two promotion play-off

Spalding Town 1 (Burrell)

Ketton Reserves 1

(Spalding won 4-3 on penalties).

Division Three promotion play-offs

Eye United 0

Bretton North End 5 (Bass 3, Martin, Araf).

Stamford Lions Reserves 1

Tydd St Mary 4 (Lowe, Burrell, Cook, Pemberton).

Related topics:Division Two