OXENHOPE’S bid to win the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup has been revived after their conquerors Settle United were expelled from the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

The Worth Valley side were beaten 3-2 in the quarter-final but have been reinstated after their Craven League hosts were found guilty of playing striker John Beckwith, who scored in the tie, against the rules.

Settle have appealed against the decision, which has seen Oxenhope given a reprieve to face Salts at Woodlesford on April 2 in the semi-finals.

Beckwith, who had netted a hat-trick in Settle’s win over Rimington in the previous round, also plays for Barnoldswick Town and had appeared twice for them in the North West Counties League Premier Division in the 28 days prior to the cup tie.

He has played 15 times for Barnoldswick and just three times for Settle – meaning he had not played in the required 75 per cent of their games.

Settle secretary Luca Caggiano lodged their appeal on Tuesday. He said: “We were not aware at the time that John Beckwith was ineligible.

“We accept now that he hadn’t played enough games but we are unhappy about the way the protest was made.”

Caggiano claimed Oxenhope knew about the issue prior to the game and, had they raised it, Settle would have removed Beckwith from the teamsheet.

Oxenhope did not wish to make any comment.