Rochester United respond to points deduction ruling in the Southern Counties East Football League as Lydd Town face sanctions too after Sunday League suspensions

Rochester United are waiting "with keen interest” for the outcome of Lydd Town’s possible points deduction after being hit by one themselves.

The Spartans’ already fading play-off hopes received a hammer blow with confirmation of a six-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player. It’s a similar scenario that relegation scrappers Lydd Town are facing.

In a statement released by Southern Counties East Division 1 side Rochester, they expressed their disappointment at the punishment received after twice fielding player Max Morgan in league fixtures.

The Strood-based club insist they were unaware of a ban the player had received in Sunday League football.

Morgan had been set to play again in a Challenge Cup fixture in mid-December, ironically at Lydd Town, but a call shortly before the game alerted Rochester to the ban and he was pulled out of the game, which ended in an 8-0 win for the Medway side.

Rochester’s impressive cup form this season led to them reaching the FA Vase second round proper but left them playing catch-up in the league. They were looking well-placed to be in the mix this season but form has dipped since mid-February and the six-point deduction further hampered their hopes.

A club statement said: “It is with disappointment that we note the decision of the SCEFL disciplinary panel to dock us the six points we received following the home victories over Clapton Community and Meridian VP for fielding an ineligible player.

“We are grateful to SCEFL (secretary) Ricky Adams without whose timely notice we would have also had our memorable 0-8 victory against Lydd…

“Rochester United at all times have never sought to deny that the player played, our mitigation has always been been that we never knew he was