Appeals ruling has implications for Ducks and Derg

BALLINAMALLARD United’s promotion hopes have been boosted after rivals Loughgall United were found guilty of playing an inelgible player in two fixtures back in September.

 

An independent commision upheld an appeal lodged by Knockbreda that Marcio Soares was ineligible to play against them in a drawn game on September 28. 

 

In accordance with Rule 35a of the Championship rules Soares was also deeemd ineligible to play in Loughgall’s victory over Ards the previous week and, in accordance with Rule 26a of U20 Championship/PIL Development League, in a game against Ballinamallard United Reserves on September 14.

 

Loughgall were fined £375 and will forfeit all fixtures and their opponents shall be awarded three points in respect of each match and a scoreline of 3-0 recorded in its favour.

 

The Mid Ulster outfit have subsequently been deducted four points which means that they slip to third place in the league with the Mallards moving up to second, the promotion play-off spot.

 

The Ferney Park outfit, who also have a game in hand of the Lakeview Park side, remain six points behind leaders Portadown but will be two ahead of the Dean Smith’s team when and if the season resumes.

 

The ruling by the commision also has major implications at the bottom end of the table. Knockbreda are now off the bottom two ahead of the PSNI and four behind Ivan Sproule’s Dergview