Postponement hits NLD hopes

Saturday’s Third Qualifying Round clash at the Marine Travel Arena was postponed after the Vics were charged on Friday with playing an ineligible player in previous rounds of the world’s oldest cup competition, leaving the Premier Division’s Mariners without a fixture.

Leary, whose club hosts top flight rivals Skelmersdale United in the first round of the Liverpool Senior Cup on Tuesday night, said the news had been a double blow as officials had been hoping for a bumper crowd with the tie taking place on Non-League Day 2015.

He said: “This is a real blow for our football club from both a football and a financial point of view. A higher crowd was expected for this FA Cup Third Qualifying Round cup tie on a day when there are no Premiership games due to the Euro qualifying games taking place over the weekend and now we have no game at all.

“This has been a great week for Marine with two fabulous away wins at Washington in the FA cup replay last Tuesday and yesterday at high flying Darlington in the league. To have a blank day now on Saturday is extremely disappointing but things are totally out of our hands.”

First Division North leaders Northwich Victoria had beaten Runcorn Town, AFC Blackpool and Hyde United before the FA starting investigating claims that a player had taken part without the correct clearance.

The FA's hearing is expected to take place on Wednesday and a spokesman said: “The tie is postponed pending an FA investigation following a charge notice issued against Northwich Victoria FC playing an ineligible player in previous rounds.”

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