Corinthians consider an appeal after Holbeach decision

When the sides met at Sergeants Lawn on Tuesday, February 23, the match was abandoned after 73 minutes with Corinthians leading 4-1 after a Holbeach player was injured and unable to leave the pitch.

Corinthians claimed the player feigned injury to get the match abandoned, but following an investigation by the Northants and Lincolnshire FAs, the UCL decided last week that the match should be replayed in full.

Corinthians Secretary David Rhinds says the club are “livid” with the verdict.

He added: “I can confirm that we are looking into this matter further and will be giving serious consideration to lodging an appeal in an attempt to get the decision overturned.”

Corinthians boss Shaun Sparrow, meanwhile, wants his players to commit to winning their relegation fight.

Corinthians were missing nine players at Wellingborough Town in midweek and were beaten 2-0.

Skipper Ben Johnson returns for the trip to Yaxley tomorrow (Saturday), along with Ryan Goodband and Aaron Watts, but Jordan Henson is still suspended.

Corinthians are currently seven points clear of the drop zone and Sparrow said:“We worked really hard to get into the Premier Division and I don’t want it to go to waste.

“I want the players to fully commit to this.

“I can’t do much about it if players have to miss games through work, but if I have too many who can’t commit we may look to add players.

“We had nine players missing at Wellingborough and you can’t play to your potential when you have that many out.

“I couldn’t ask for any more from the players we had on the pitch.

“They worked as hard as they could, but we just couldn’t find a way through.”

Results elsewhere on Tuesday night weren’t kind to Corinthians with wins for Oadby Town and Boston while Sileby Rangers grabbed an unlikely point against Kirby Muxloe.

Sparrow added: “It does feel a bit like the world is against us at the moment, so we have to work hard, redouble our efforts and fight back.

“I really don’t want us to go down.”

Wellingborough Town head into back-to-back home games this week boosted by the return of striker Alfie Taylor.

He marked his return to the Dog & Duck with the goal that set the Doughboys on their way to a 2-0 win over Rothwell Corinthians.

That result puts them four points clear of the drop zone going into matches against Deeping Rangers and Sleaford Town.

Boss Jon Mitchell is convinced the Doughboys will stay up and says Taylor can be a key player during the run in.

Taylor has been brought in to replace Will Muzvimbiri after he returned to Sweden.

Mitchell said: “Alfie has goals in him and that’s why we brought him in.

“He says he wants a club where he can settle and enjoy his football and I’m glad it’s here.

“I’ve known Alfie since he was in the youth set-up at Wellingborough and he’s always had a lot about him.”

Mitchell says he doesn’t expect to add any more players to his squad this season.

“We have the strength in depth to get us through,” he said. “The players have shown me in the last couple of games that they really want to stay in this league.”

Desborough Town boss Chris Bradshaw reckons his side can end AFC Kempston Rovers’ unbeaten record this weekend.

Kempston are yet to lose in 29 games in the UCL Premier Division but Ar Tarn head to Bedfordshire tomorrow in good form.

They have been beaten just once in their last seven games following last week’s 3-0 win over Wellingborough Town and could welcome back skipper Aaron Davies this weekend.

Bradshaw said: “I’ve always thought Kempston will win the league, but they are going to lose at some stage and why can’t it be us who beats them ?

“There’s no pressure on us and if we are at the top of our game for 90 minutes, we can come away with something.

“But if we play like we did in the first half against Wellingborough last week, Kempston will be out of sight by half-time.”

Jake Bettles netted twice against the Doughboys last week – taking his season’s tally to 14 goals – but Bradshaw admitted: “Wellingborough will wonder how they were 1-0 down at half-time.

“They were by far the better side in the first half and had a goal disallowed.

“The second half was really pleasing and if you win 3-0, you have to go home happy.”