Alan Devonshire has accused Hampton & Richmond's Blue Square South play-off opponents Fisher Athletic of bending the rules to field Leicester City goalkeeper Carl Pentney.
Fisher manager Wayne Burnett received permission from FA officials to sign the Foxes trainee on an emergency seven-day loan agreement and solve a keeper crisis hours before Tuesday's semi-final first leg, which finished 1-1.
The move almost backfired when a slip from Pentney let in striker Ian Hodges to give Hampton the lead just before half-time, but the 19-year-old stopper redeemed himself with a string of fine saves in the second half.
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The Champion Hill side lost regular keeper Simon Overland to a broken arm in March and his replacement - Grays Athletic loanee Danny Knowles - was recalled by his Blue Square Premier employers last week.
It left youth team custodian Chris Lewington between the sticks for Fisher's 2-1 win at Newport County on Saturday, but Devonshire has questioned the extent of an injury' he sustained in training following that clash.
"It was a fair result," Devonshire said after Tuesday's stalemate, which gives the Beavers everything to play for ahead of Saturday's second leg at the Beveree.
"We could have won it and they hit the post in the last minute but, if you asked me who the man of the match was, I would have to say their keeper.
"I haven't got clue what the situation is with him.
"I have heard he signed today. It costs me £20 to get a medical certificate - maybe I should get one?
"It makes a lottery of the whole thing.
"At the end of the day, I have got a youth-team keeper signed up. If Matt Lovett gets injured, my youth-team keeper plays; it is as simple as that.
"The other keeper played against Newport and then the new one gets man of the match."
Hampton go into the weekend clash with doubts over the fitness of Lawrence Yaku and Elliott Godfrey.
But Devonshire is confident the pair, who have hit 31 league goals between them this season, will be fit to help Hampton secure a place in next Thursday's final at Stevenage.
"Elliott's tweaked a thigh and Yaks felt his hamstring, so we took them off with an eye on Saturday. They should be all right," he said.
Posted by: Tim, South Croydon on 6:52pm Sun 4 May 08
Typical whinging from the Hampton manager which has taken the gloss off two excellent games. I wish Hampton all the best but they could do worse than think about the man in charge. Their team could be promoted in spite of him rather than because of him.
Typical whinging from the Hampton manager which has taken the gloss off two excellent games. I wish Hampton all the best but they could do worse than think about the man in charge. Their team could be promoted in spite of him rather than because of him.
[quote][bold]Tim[/bold] wrote:
Typical whinging from the Hampton manager which has taken the gloss off two excellent games. I wish Hampton all the best but they could do worse than think about the man in charge. Their team could be promoted in spite of him rather than because of him.[/quote] Are you sure Tim? This guy has taken Hampton from Ryman 1 to Premier and now play off final for a place in the Conference on one of the smallest budgets in the league. If you dont believe that he is the man then you obviously have never seen the team play.
Tim wrote:
Typical whinging from the Hampton manager which has taken the gloss off two excellent games. I wish Hampton all the best but they could do worse than think about the man in charge. Their team could be promoted in spite of him rather than because of him.
Are you sure Tim? This guy has taken Hampton from Ryman 1 to Premier and now play off final for a place in the Conference on one of the smallest budgets in the league. If you dont believe that he is the man then you obviously have never seen the team play.
Looking forward to the big day on Thursday!! Will Hampton be bringing all 6 of their fans. I'm looking forward to seeing the Beavers get a good stuffing.
[bold]UP THE 'BORO!!!!!![/bold]
[bold]We are going up say we are going up!!!![/bold]
Looking forward to the big day on Thursday!! Will Hampton be bringing all 6 of their fans. I'm looking forward to seeing the Beavers get a good stuffing.
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