THE manager of a town team is crying foul after a cup match was controversially ordered to be replayed.

Adam Hutchinson believes his Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Under 15s Schools side have been unfairly punished after beating the favourites of the Inter Association Trophy.

Hyndburn and Ribble Valley defeated Manchester in a thrilling spot kick shoot-out after the teams were locked at 5-5 after extra time - but now the giant-killing act will not stand as the English Schools FA ruled that the match has to be replayed.

The whole row centres around an ESFA ruling on when games should be replayed or decided by penalty kicks.

Matches that are played well in advance of the deadline date for the next round of matches go to replays while those close to the deadline date are decided on the day.

"This match was right on the deadline so, according to the rules, the match had to be decided on penalties," said Adam a teacher at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.

"We consulted the rule book and the referee and the Manchester manager both agreed.

"After we won on penalties, the Manchester manager congratulated me and wished me all the best for the next round.

"But suddenly, the match has to be replayed because they lodged a complaint and the ESFA have taken their side."

In the match itself, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley made an amazing comeback from 4-1 down to force extra time then led 5-4 until Manchester scored a dramatic late equaliser.

The victory was made all the more impressive as the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley side was in danger of folding until Adam and Phil Taylor, one of the player's parents, decided to run the side.

They had already beaten Yorkshire champions Bradford and Lancashire champions Blackpool in previous rounds.

"This was a magnificent performance from the lads and it has been taken away from them," added "If it was the other way around, I would like to see what the outcome would have been. And I wonder if Manchester had won on penalty kicks would they have insisted on the match being replayed.

"I just think it is a case of looking after the big teams and not caring about the smaller sides like us.

"We beat Manchester fair and square after a penalty shoot-out but now they have been given another bite of the cherry."

The match should have been replayed at the weekend but Adam refused to play as a matter of principle.

He added: "If we had played then it would have meant we accepted the decision. We thought long and hard about it but we informed the ESFA of our decision which was a matter of principle."

The English Schools FA were unavailable to comment.