BOURNEMOUTH Saturday League outfit Milford have been thrown out of the final of the Hayward Cup.
The Division Two side booked their place with a 3-1 win over Talbot Rise last month but fielded an ineligible player.
Matt Vining, who featured for Milford, had also lined up in the FA Cup for Wessex One Verwood Town, which contravened Bournemouth Hayward Football League rules.
As a result, Milford have been removed from the Hurn Bridge showpiece with Talbot replacing them in the final against Bournemouth Manor A.
A spokesperson for the Bournemouth FA said: “Having played in the FA Cup, a player cannot play in any of the BHFL Saturday cup competitions – with the exception of the MA Hart Pickford Cup.
“Nor can they play in any County Intermediate or Junior Cup competitions.
“Having established that Matt Vining had played for Verwood Town on August 6 in the FA Cup against Badshot Lea and again in the replay on August 8, the management committee were obliged, in accordance with cup rule seven, to remove Milford from the competition."
Rule seven states: “A team having played an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player and having been found guilty of such shall (if having won the match in question) be removed from the competition.”
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