MORPETH TOWN have been handed a walkover into the next round of the FA Vase after 1874 Northwich pulled out ahead of their second round game on Wednesday.
The original tie last Saturday was postponed with Morpeth's Craik Park pitch waterlogged and Northwich proposed that they should meet again this coming Saturday.
Morpeth, as well as the FA, refused, and the game was set for Wednesday night with an 8pm kick-off before Northwich pulled out, saying they could not raise a team for the 400-mile round trip.
“All of our players have full-time jobs and getting time off, especially at short notice, has proved difficult,” said a Northwich statement.
“Our secretary has been in regular contact with the FA and chairman (Paul Stockton) has spoken to an FA official, but they are not prepared to change their mind.
“We sincerely apologise to our supporters for this unfortunate outcome as losing any game without competing on the field is not what it's all about.”
Morpeth boss Nick Gray, meanwhile, said the club would be donating their £1,000 prize money to Northwich, who travelled to Morpeth last Friday for the original tie and stayed overnight.
“It's a sad state – we don't want to go through like this,” Gray said. “FA rules say that postponed weekend games at this stage of the competition have to be played by the following Thursday.
“If last Saturday's game had gone ahead, and ended in a draw, then we would have had to go down there for a replay.
“And our lads would have been in the same position as theirs, having to ask their boss on Monday for time off the following day. It goes both ways.
“We've had a bit of stick off Northwich, but our committee has agreed to send our prize money – I think it's £1,000 – to them.”
