Sporting Khalsa again gunning for glory after FA Vase reprieve

Khalsa are back in the competition after Godmanchester Rovers, the team who knocked them out earlier this month, were booted out after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

The Cambridgeshire club played Chris Hyem despite the midfielder having picked up two bookings in earlier rounds, meaning he was suspended under new FA rules introduced last summer.

Though Godmanchester do have the right to appeal, their chances of overturning the punishment are slim, meaning it is Khalsa now scheduled to face AFC Sholing in a fifth round tie on February 2.

Boss Ian Rowe said: “I do genuinely feel for Godmanchester. They could not have made us more welcome on the day.

“I don’t believe for a moment they were deliberately looking to gain an unfair advantage. It was an honest mistake but the rules are the rules and everyone knew them at the start of the season.

“We were unable to play Tesfa Robinson, who is our skipper and the beating heart of the team, because he had two bookings to his name.

“I came away on the day thinking we had been beaten fair and square. But the truth is it wasn’t fair, because they had a player in their team who should not have been playing.”

Rowe’s immediate focus is Saturday’s Midlands League Premier game with Long Eaton United at the Aspray Arena.

Back-to-back wins over Westfields and Shepshed have put Khalsa firmly back in the title race and they are now aiming to stay on target, after swapping footballs for paintballs last weekend.

Players took advantage of a rare Saturday off to go on a team-bonding trip.

Rowe explained: “The players organised it themselves. I think it shows what a close-knit group they are.

“It’s a big game on Saturday. We haven’t beaten Long Eaton in three attempts.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Walsall Wood host Boldmere, while Lye Town go to Romulus and Wolverhampton Sporting head to Coventry Sphinx.