Woodhouse United resume their Rochdale Sunday League First Division season this weekend without two key players.
Gavin James’s side face tough opposition in fourth-placed Heywood Rangers minus their captain and Jonny Sutcliffe after the pairwere handed a ban by the Lancashire FA following ugly scenes at the end of their 2-1 success over Asia two weeks ago.
On that occasion an injury-time challenge from Sutcliffe sparked a mass brawl which involved the Yorksahire Ambulance Service and West Yorkshire Police.
However, James has confirmed that the club will be appealing against the outcome but believes it will not be concluded in time for this weekend’s game.
“We feel we have been let down by the decision,” said James. “While we’re appealing on behalf of the players who have been suspended it is very doubtful whether they will be involved against Heywood.
“Heywood are apparantly a very good side and we are bound to strugfgle with two of our best players missing.
“It will put us at a massive disadvantage but I will be geeing them up in the changing room.
“I believe in the players and I have asked them to be there earely so we can have a chat and get ourselves prepared.
“We still have some good players and some new additions and I believe we will give a good account of ourselves.”
James added that the club are still compiling statements regarding the problems against Asia and that he hoped for a positive outcome.
“We have gotn witness reports from parents and supporters and medicval reports om the two injured players and i still have a report to put in on the incident,” added James.
James added that the club wanted to re-iterate that it was unable to comment to the Todmorden News on the post-match incidents which followed the Todmorden side’s 2-1 Rochdale Sunday League first division victory over Asia FC at Woodhouse Road on September 14.
James said to do so before the league had completed its investigation would have put the club in breach of league rules.