And then there were six

MOSTONIANS’ third-round Lancashire Amateur Cup tie against Southport Amateurs was abandoned — after they ran out of players!

Reduced to seven men after four red cards, Mostonians were reduced to six when Mike Ball went down with a calf injury in the second period of extra time.

He was unable to carry on and because Mostonians had already used up all their substitutes, the referee had no option but to stop the game. Rules state that a team must have at least seven players on the pitch for the match to continue.

The two teams were locked together at 4-4 when play was halted.

Mostonians manager Geoff Nicholls said: “It wasn’t a dirty game, a bit niggly maybe, but no more than that.

“It was definitely bizarre — just a freak game of football — and I’ve never know anything like it before.

“There was no way that Mike (Ball) could carry on. When he came off, the referee came up to me and said he’d have to abandon the game. He shook my hand and that was it.”

Mostonians, who play their home fixtures at The Lancaster Club, went down to eight players at the end of normal time with the score at 3-3.

But they still managed to go in front, only for Southport, who had a full contingent of 11, to draw level from the penalty spot.

Mostonians are waiting to hear from the Lancashire FA to see what action, if any, will be taken against them and if the tie will be replayed.

Chaddertonians had no such problems at Millom outfit Haverigg United.

A second-half brace from Rick Massey and a Steve Barrow penalty just before the break clinched a comfortable 3-0 win.

Failsworth Dynamos were beaten 2-1 at Old Boltonians in the premier division, but a goal from Paul Kearns clinched a 1-0 for table-toppers Chadds reserves against their Old Mancunians counterparts.

Oldham Hulmeians swept aside Mostonians reserves 7-1, while Boland (three) and Ankers scored for Failsworth Dynamos in a 4-2 defeat of Bolton Wyresdale reserves in division three.

Jordan Scholes (three), Mark Hendstock, Liam Wilson and Charlie Clark were on target for Chadds ‘A’ in a 6-1 win at Little Lever SC ‘B’ in division five, while Hulmeians reserves and Roach Dynamos reserves shared the spoils in a 5-5 draw.

Chadds ‘B’ were held to a 1-1 draw 1-1 at home to Old Blackburnians ‘B’ in division six, but there were defeats for Hulmeians ‘A’ and ‘B’ in division seven.

Results —

Premier division: Old Boltonians 2, Failsworth Dynamos 1. Division two: Chaddertonians Res 1, Old Mancunians Res 0; Oldham Hulmeians 7, Mostonians Res 1. Division three: Failsworth Dynamos Res 4 Bolton Wyresdale Res 2. Division four: Little Lever SC ‘B’ 1, Chaddertonians ‘A’ 6. Division five: Mostonians ‘A’ 6, Lymm ‘A’ 5; Roach Dynamos Res 5, Oldham Hulmeians Res 5. Division six: Chaddertonians ‘B’ 1, Old Blackburnians ‘B’ 1. Division seven: Oldham Hulmeians ‘B’ 1, Rossendale Amateurs ‘C’ 5; Rossendale Amateurs ‘D’ 6, Oldham Hulmeians ‘A’ 3. Lancashire Amateur Cup, round three: Haverigg United 0, Chaddertonians 3; Mostonians 4, Southport Amateurs 4 — match abandoned.