Thorpe Wood Rangers appeal against ‘harsh’ punishments, Oundle Town booted out of a cup and other Peterborough League disciplinary issues

Leading Peterborough League Division Two side Thorpe Wood Rangers are appealing against a points deduction which could scupper their title hopes.
Liam Oliver-Smith converts a penalty for Thorpe Wood Rangers at Crowland Reserves. Photo: David Lowndes.Liam Oliver-Smith converts a penalty for Thorpe Wood Rangers at Crowland Reserves. Photo: David Lowndes.
Liam Oliver-Smith converts a penalty for Thorpe Wood Rangers at Crowland Reserves. Photo: David Lowndes.

The city side dropped from top spot to sixth after seeing six points taken away for fielding an ineligible player in seven Division Two matches.

The club have also been removed from the Peterborough League Cup and the Peterborough Junior Cup for the same reason. The player in question was deemed ineligible because of a failure to correctly gain international clearance.

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There is no suggestion the club acted dishonestly, but the Peterborough League have clamped down hard on an administrative error.

Action from Crowland Res (yellow) v Thorpe Wood Rangers at Snowdens Field. Photo: David Lowndes.Action from Crowland Res (yellow) v Thorpe Wood Rangers at Snowdens Field. Photo: David Lowndes.
Action from Crowland Res (yellow) v Thorpe Wood Rangers at Snowdens Field. Photo: David Lowndes.

Thorpe Wood have also been fined £250, £150 of which has been suspended.

Seven Division Two clubs have been awarded three points after losing to Thorpe Wood and Rippingale & Folkingham Reserves, Deeping United and Leverington Reserves have been re-instated to cup competitions.

No appeal date has yet been confirmed.

A Thorpe Wood Rangers spokesman said: “We have appealed the decisions. As a club we will be outlining the full details once this is over. Liverpool only got a fine didn’t they?”

Action from Crowland Resv Thorpe Wood Rangers (maroon) at Snowdens Field. Photo: David Lowndes.Action from Crowland Resv Thorpe Wood Rangers (maroon) at Snowdens Field. Photo: David Lowndes.
Action from Crowland Resv Thorpe Wood Rangers (maroon) at Snowdens Field. Photo: David Lowndes.
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Liverpool were fined, but allowed to stay in the EFL Cup this season after fielding an ineligible player at MK Dons.

Last Saturday (February 8) Thorpe Wood responded to their problems in the right way by winning 2-0 at promotion rivals Crowland Town Reserves with goals from Liam Oliver-Smith (penalty) and Michael Uff. They are nine points behind leaders NECI with two games in hand.

*The Division Three title race has also been opened up by a disciplinary ruling.

The recent scheduled game between unbeaten title challengers Ramsey Town and Holbeach Sports wasn’t played because there were no officially appointed match officials meaning the clubs need to agree on a referee.

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They didn’t and leaders Holbeach were deemed to be guilty so suffered a one point deduction while Ramsey were awarded three points.

Holbeach now lead Ramsey by three points from the same number of games. Ramsey lost for the first time this season last Saturday, 1-0 at home to Orton Rangers.

* Oundle Town have been thrown out of the Peterborough Challenge Cup for fielding an ineligible player in a win over Spalding Town.

Oundle fell foul of playing a player in the competition who had already played for a different club (Ketton) in a more senior competition. The club were also fined £60.

Spalding Town have been reinstated to the Challenge Cup.

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Other recent disciplinary matters dealt with by the Peterborough League included...

*ICA Sports fined £50 for failing to attend an awards presentation.

*Orton Rangers, Oundle Town, Parkside Reserves and FC Peterborough fined£30 for failing to to submit match details on time.

*Tydd Reserves were removed, and Huntingdon Rovers reinstated, to the Peterborough League Cup after fielding an ineligible player

*Leverington Sports A fined £150 for withdrawing from the League.