A Shropshire side have suffered the heartbreak of missing out on the their first ever county cup final at Shrewsbury Town’s Prostar Stadium – after fielding an ineligible player in the semi-final, writes James Garrison.

Ironbridge Sunday League outfit Wrekin Amateurs thought they had booked their place in the Shropshire Sunday Challenge Cup final with a 3-1 victory over Wrockwardine Wood in the semi-final.

But Aaron Rose, who played the final eight minutes as a substitute, featured for White Lion (Wellington) in the second round.

Shropshire FA officials have thrown Wrekin Amateurs out of the competition and re-instated Wrockwardine Wood, who will now meet Bush (St Georges) at the Prostar on April 26.

“The players are all absolutely gutted,” said Wrekin manager Simon Delves, who ironically was joint manager of Wrockwardine Wood’s Saturday team in the County Premier League until last month.

Ruling

“We haven’t lost a game all season so this final would have been the perfect reward for all the squad.

“Aaron insisted he hadn’t played in the competition but we have to accept the ruling.

Delves revealed plans for the club to fold at the end of the season look set to be shelved after this incident.

“I was going to call it a day and it didn’t look like anybody else would take it on,” he added.

“But the players want to prove a point next season so if they can’t find anyone else, I will probably carry on.”

Brian Neville, chairman of Wrockwardine Wood, admitted players and officials at his club were pleased with their reprieve.

“The rules are the rules,” he said. “We learned that they may have fielded an ineligible player and put in an appeal. It went our way and now we have got a big day out to look forward to.”

Shropshire FA spokesman Neil Sambrook insisted there was no alternative.

“We do have sympathy for them because they played Aaron Rose in good faith. But he was cup-tied.”