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Newark & Sherwood United reinstated in Notts Senior Cup after Retford played ineligible player in quarter-final tie




Newark & Sherwood United are back in contention for silverware after being handed a Notts Senior Cup reprieve.

The Highwaymen lost 2-1 to Retford in a rearranged quarter-final tie on Tuesday last week.

Newark & Sherwood United manager Romaine Graham. Picture: Steve W Davies Photography
Newark & Sherwood United manager Romaine Graham. Picture: Steve W Davies Photography

But eagle-eyed secretary Glenn Cobb spotted their opponents had fielded an ineligible player as a substitute.

As a result, United have been reinstated and will visit Radford, a team they’ve already beaten 4-2 in the FA Vase this season, in the semi-finals next month.

“Our secretary, Glenn, he’s big on the rules,” said manager Romaine Graham.

“You’re not allowed to play a player that was signed after the original fixture date.

“Glenn noticed one of their players had signed recently and we’ve ended up going through.

“The same thing happened a couple of years ago, also in the quarter-finals, and we went on to win the cup.

“Hopefully the same thing happens this time.

“I think Retford were pretty annoyed. The lad that came on looked decent. They might have got away with it had he not come on but they’re doomed after that.”

There is some bad news for Newark & Sherwood, however, with vice-captain Jamie Williamson departing for Step 3 Basford.

“It’s a bit of a blow but he’s done well, so good luck to him,” said Graham, who is working on a replacement.

“The director of football at Basford knew of Willo and that he’s really great in the air.

“They needed somebody in, so I allowed him to train with them. I didn’t want to halt his progress.

“It was a bit of a weird one but in the end I thought let him go and try his luck.

“He’s moved around a lot so this season was about staying with us, but I did say if a Step 3 club came in, I wouldn’t stand in his way.

“He was contracted so we had a couple of offers from clubs around us that we didn’t entertain but Basford’s a step higher and we’ve got a better relationship with them now.

“One day we want to be competing with Basford.

“When we move to our new ground we can offer players a bit more and there’ll be more resistance but, for now, let them go.”

Newark & Sherwood remain ninth in United Counties League Premier Division North after a drawing 2-2 at Boston Town last weekend.

The Highwaymen led through a Tyler Dacres cracker but trailed 2-1 before top scorer Kieran Cummings secured a point after coming off the bench.

“We could have won it if we were a bit more ruthless but the performance shows we’re moving in the right direction,” said Graham.

“Tyler scored a really good goal. He was very good. Him, Marley Fearon and young Luke Williamson, those three were our best players.”

The Highwaymen visit third-placed Lincoln United this Saturday (3pm), a team they beat 3-2 at home.

“There’s going to be a bit of added spice because when they came to our place, there was a bit of action on Twitter,” said Graham.

“We like to make some noise when we win and it was, ‘OK, see you back at our place’. It’s going to be a battle.”



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