SOCCER: Melton St Audry's swayed by public opinion, are to appeal to the Suffolk Football Association after having three points deducted by the Metaltec SIL following their 'victory' over Grundisburgh in the Senior Division two weeks ago.
MELTON St Audry's swayed by public opinion, are to appeal to the Suffolk Football Association after having three points deducted by the Metaltec SIL following their 'victory' over Grundisburgh in the Senior Division two weeks ago.
The Saints fielded striker Simon Fryatt and he scored one of the two goals in a 2-1 victory. Although the SIL accepted Fryatt's signing at the time, this was later found to be a mistake as he was still on Woodbridge Athletic's books.
Players sign for life in the SIL and Melton says they were unaware – and so was the player – that he had signed for Woodbridge Athletic in 1999.
The league admitted their error and although a management committee meeting declared the match void they did not penalise the Saints and agreed to pay match expenses when the game is re-staged.
Melton St Audry's chairman Phil Fairbrother said today: "At first we thought we would accept the decision, even though we had done nothing wrong.
"But we have received so much support from other clubs that we have made an official appeal to the Suffolk FA. We held a special committee and the feeling was to go for it.
"We have nothing against Grundisburgh, as they have also done nothing wrong. We beat them fair and square and it was cruel to have the rewards taken away."
Last Saturday Melton played current leaders Walsham and pushed them all the way in a game they lost 3-2. But not until they had given Paul Smith's side, who still boast a100 per cent record, a real fright.
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