Spalding United forfeited their Lincolnshire County Cup semi-final on Tuesday night blaming a lack of players.
The Tulips were meant to take on Scunthorpe United at the Sir Halley Stewart.
But on Monday the Lincolnshire Football Association released a joint statement from them and Spalding United announcing the club were withdrawing from the competition.
It stated it was because the club ‘felt they were not in a position to fulfil the fixture due to difficulties raising a squad’.
“While we are disappointed the fixture will not go ahead, we must accept their decision,” the Lincolnshire FA statement continues.
It states that Spalding had looked to rearrange the fixture for March but that was against the competition rules as set in agreement.
“This rule is in place to support clubs and help avoid potential play off or relegation fixtures clashes later in the season.
“The draw for the semi finals was conducted on Thursday, November 21 giving all clubs involved over three months to arrange their fixtures on a mutually agreeable date.
“Due to fixture congestion, this date was only available for both teams.”
The Tulips have reached the final of the competition in the last two seasons, losing both, including a 3-2 defeat to Scunthorpe United in last year’s showpiece event at Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank.
The Irons were then managed by current Spalding boss Jimmy Dean.
He lamented a lack of players as his side only fielded three subs when their 11-match unbeaten run came to an end at Banbury United on Saturday.
The Tulips don’t have a reserve team and there’s been a large turnover in playing staff since Dean replaced Elliott Sandy as manager.
Following the match Dean said the club were ‘a little bit short’ in defensive positions due to Darnell Johnson leaving the club and injuries to Liam Moore, Connor Brown and Keiran Freeman.
Club captain Nathan Stainfield is currently out on loan at Wellingborough Town.
Despite those missing, Dean felt Spalding were the better side and should have won at Banbury on Saturday in the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier.
The hosts took a tenth- minute lead when Janaai Gordon’s speculative shot from 35 to 40 yards out bobbled under keeper Aaron Chapman’s full length dive.
After missing several chances, Joseph Nyahwema levelled matters with a strike from the edge of the area in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Bart Cybulski missed the Tulips’ best chance to take the lead as he was well thwarted when through on goal.
And it was Banbury who went in front on 78 minutes when Alex Prosser impressively volleyed in after an attempted clearance dropped his way.
Sano-Sani had a chance from a ball in to level late on but his effort was saved.
“It’s a tough one to take,” said Dean. “It was a good performance and I thought we were the better side.
“We created a lot of opportunities including a couple of one-on-ones and some penalty shouts, two of which were stonewall.
“I think Chappy will know he should have done better with their first goal and the second it’s a worldy strike you can’t take away from the lad.
“Other than that I can’t remember them having many other chances.
“It’s frustrating we didn’t make our chances count, but that’s football.”
Tulips: Chapman, Clifton, Fox, Walker, Cartwright, Lawlor, Sembie-Feris, Sherif, Cybulski, Sano-Sani, Nyahwema. Subs: Ngandu, Leshabela, Chettle.
Attendance: 566.
