FA Vase Preview: Peacocks dealt Tilt blow (From Halesowen News)

FA Vase Preview: Peacocks dealt Tilt blow

2:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Football

GORNAL Athletic have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their FA Vase showdown at Spennymoor Town after defender Curtis Tilt was suspended for the quarter-final tie.

The centre-back, a mainstay of the Peacocks backline this season, has been slapped with a two game ban for comments made to a linesman following the 2-1 defeat to Loughborough University on February 5.

Manager Ian Rowe says the club were totally unaware of the incident until they received a letter informing them of Tilt’s suspension.

He said: “Curtis gave away a last minute penalty and has apparently said something to the linesman when they came off at the end, though he denies it.

“I spoke to the referee after the game, no mention of the incident was made but three days later we get a letter telling us he is banned.

“We’ve been told we can’t appeal it.

“I’m gutted for Curtis, he was absolutely immense at Bodmin in the last round and it leaves us with a huge hole in defence going into the biggest game in Gornal’s history.”

Robert Blair was set to deputise for Tilt in last night’s league game against Coleshill Town.

Rowe believes Gornal face a huge challenge against reigning Northern League champions Spennymoor, whose playing budget is rumoured to be around £3,000 per week.

But he says his players are up for the challenge.

He said: “It’s going to be tough but over the past couple of years my lads have pulled it out of the bag time and time again.

“Spennymoor are strong, they are probably the best step five side in the country, but we will go and give it a real go.”