Sidbury United have been docked a point by the Fresha League after they were unable to field a side for the Premier Division meeting with Newtown.

It’s the latest blow to a United side struggling to find any sort of consistency on the pitch in their second season of top flight football.

United manager Jeremy Schofield says: “I informed the league two weeks before that I have six of the squad travelling to Manchester to take in the David Beckham charity match at Old Trafford and, together with our current long injury list, and the fact that we do not have a second team to call up players from, there was simply no way that we could get a team onto the pitch for the game.”

He continued: “To then have a point taken away is a real kick in the teeth. In hindsight, I’d have been better served perhaps to keep quiet and let the weather do its work and call the game off owing to pitch problems. I was honest and forthright, explained our case well in advance of the fixture and, lo, and behold, we get docked a point!”

Tomorrow (November 21), United travel to Fresha League leaders Honiton Town, and there’s better news for Schofield on the player front with Jamie Bayliss, injured in pre-season, at last available for selection and also available is Danny Green.

Schofield says: “Having Jamie and Danny back will give us a big boost. It’s been a difficult season so far, but where there is a will there’s a way and we are all singing from the same hymn sheet at United. The latest league table does not make happy reading now the points have been docked, but a decent performance at Mountbatten Park this weekend will give us all a massive lift.”

The point deduction means that United are now joint bottom on six points with Willand Rovers Reserves and Beer Reserves - see the latest table now on page 62.