LEIGH RMI made a dignified, if controversial exit from the FA Trophy without kicking a ball - thrown out of the competition by the FA after fielding goalkeeper Seb Rowe without international clearance.

The Railwaymen had their third round replay against Stalybridge Celtic postponed after the UniBond outfit protested to the governing body about Rowe's inclusion.

RMI argued that they had acted in good faith but their plea for lenience fell on deaf ears and Celtic, managed by former RMI assistant boss Dave Miller, were awarded the tie and a fourth round date with fellow UniBond Premier Division side, Marine.

A spokesman for the Tameside club said: "We are obviously unhappy that the match wasn't settled on the pitch. We didn't want to report the incident, but we have acted within the rules."

RMI manager Phil Starbuck was furious at the ruling, even more so that the FA didn't grant Leigh the right of appeal.

"The whole incident just stinks," he said. "We have acted in good faith throughout all of this and didn't deserve this to happen to us. The way that Stalybridge have conducted themselves has really disappointed me. But if they wanted to win that much, I'm staggered."

RMI were not fined for their indiscretion but will feel a financial penalty because of the £4,000 prizemoney up for grabs to the winners of Stalybridge replay.

Furthermore, victory in the next round would have taken earnings from a cup run to five figures and eased the club's financial burden.

While the politics of the situation infuriated officials at Hilton Park, how Rowe had completed 16 games without international clearance remains a mystery. His performances for Atherton Colls and Bury reserves earned him the call-up after Leigh's first choice 'keeper Gary Kelly broke his thumb and stand-in Ian Martin was cup-tied.