Bewdley fuming over FA decision (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Bewdley fuming over FA decision

1:00pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sportsview

BEWDLEY Town have expressed their anger at the county FA after Tuesday night’s Worcestershire FA Senior Urn quarter-final was switched at short notice to opponents Alvechurch.

The holders had agreed with the Churchmen to move the knockout game to last night, to give the waterlogged Ribbesford Meadow playing surface time to recover.

However, the county FA decided to switch the clash to Alvechurch’s ground only four hours before the kick-off on Tuesday.

As a result, four of Town’s players were unable to attend the match because they could not get out of work in time.

Bewdley were forced to field a weakened starting 11 and only had one player, keeper Darren Steadman, on the bench as they lost 3-0.

Joint manager Craig Payton said: “We lost four players because of the FA’s decision.

“I feel let down, this was a huge game for us and they made it incredibly difficult for us to compete.”

The last eight game had been postponed twice before because of the poor weather.

County FA discipline manager Chris Dale said: “We were made aware that the quarter-final could not have gone ahead at Bewdley.

“We invoked a rule to move the match to Lye Meadow, which both clubs agreed to.”

Bewdley club secretary Steve Godfrey has sent an email to the governing body explaining the club’s displeasure at the move.

Meanwhile, Town suffered mixed results over the last week. They drew 2-2 with West Midlands League Premier pace-setters Lye Town thanks to Chris Hough’s brace. Craig Webb and Luke Towler were both red carded.

Town saw a weakened side lose 5-1 to Wellington on Saturday.

Bewdley entertain Bustleholme tonight (7.45pm ko) and Wolverhampton Casuals on Saturday (3pm ko).

They go to Willenhall on Tuesday and take on the same team at home in the League Cup next Thursday (both 7.45pm ko).