Rangers hosted Wallingford & Crowmarsh last Tuesday night in the quarter final of the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup; a fixture that had some incredibly controversial connotations. The result certainly ended Rangers involvement and quite possibly Wallingford's too, as they face elimination on a technicality. In a tight match that could have gone either way Rangers took the lead in the 24th minute through Lewis Francis with Wallingford equalising nine minutes later, Higgs the scorer. Wallingford thought they had progressed with a 64th minute winner from Webber, but a second half substitution by the visitors should cost them a place in the semi-final, according to competition rules.

Wallingford were not alone in this, with Rangers too, bringing on a substitute in the second half who was also ineligible. The league are now looking into the background of the rule breaks. To make matters worse, the Wallingford substitute had played twice in this very cup competition, earlier in the season for....wait for it... Risborough Rangers! He has played one other game in the competition for Wallingford, in their victory over Epsom & Ewell in the last round. As for Risborough Rangers, it would appear that their illicit second half substitute had previously played for Windsor & Eton before playing in the last round for Rangers, against Cobham! It would seem that both clubs are guilty of an administrative error and in fact I know that Rangers left at least one player, possibly two, out of the squad for the Wallingford fixture because they were cup tied, one having played for Burnham in a previous round. However, rules are rules and the league now have to stand by their rules with the probable solution being that Epsom & Ewell and Cobham have a play off for the right to play either Whyteleafe or Horley Town in the semi-final. What a mess! One things for sure, never rely on a players word in these matters, check the records! Watch this space!