Cheltenham’s cup reprieve

CHELTENHAM Town Ladies have been reinstated to the Vitality Women’s FA Cup after Portsmouth Women were punished for fielding an ineligible player.

Pompey won last Sunday’s second-round tie in Hampshire 2-0 after extra-time, but they have now been expelled from the competition so the Robins move through to the next stage of the competition.

A statement said: “Portsmouth FC Women have been removed from this season’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup following the fielding of an ineligible player during Sunday’s second-round tie against Cheltenham Town.

“As a result, the tie has been awarded to Cheltenham and they will take on Gillingham this weekend. No further action has been taken against the club.”

Tom Davies’ Cheltenham team will play Gillingham at home on Sunday (2pm), with the winners away to WSL giants Arsenal in round four on April 18.

Cheltenham chairman Andy Liddle said: “Both sides played their socks off for 120 minutes on Sunday after a lengthy Covidenforced break.

“Football matches should be won on the pitch, but sadly admin errors happen. Someone has made a simple mistake here, and it has cost Portsmouth dearly; I feel for them.”

CRICKET

(All matches start at 11am)

LV= County Championship - Group 1 (day 1 of 4): Chelmsford - Essex v Worcestershire, Trent Bridge - Nottinghamshire v Durham, Edgbaston - Warwickshire v Derbyshire.

Group 2 (day 1 of 4): Bristol - Gloucestershire v Surrey, Grace Road - Leicestershire v Hampshire, Lord’s - Middlesex v Somerset.

Group 3 (day 1 of 4): Emirates Old Trafford - Lancashire v Sussex, Northampton - Northamptonshire v Kent, Emerald Headingley - Yorkshire v Glamorgan.

FOOTBALL

Europa League - quarter-finals, first leg: Ajax v Roma (8pm), Arsenal v Slavia Prague (8pm), Dinamo Zagreb v Villarreal (8pm), Granada v Manchester United (8pm).