THIS year's Evening Advertiser Cup has been marred by controversy after four of the remaining eight clubs broke competition rules.

The quarter-finals between South Marston and 147 Club and Allied Goodheart and Custom Homes were denounced void when each of the four teams fielded ineligible players.

Such rule bending often ends with the offending club being thrown out of the competition, but league officials have ordered the two matches to be replayed.

The law in question dictates that players must have competed in at least four matches for their club prior to December 31.

This guards against teams drafting in 'ringers' for the purposes of progressing to the County Ground final in April.

South Marston, 147, Allied Goodheart and Custom Homes all contravened that rule, but the quartet will live to fight another day as their respective quarter-final games are replayed.

That decision has been deemed too lenient by the two teams who legitimately qualified for the semi-finals.

Queenstown and Queensfield made the last four with wins over GW Bar and Nalgo respectively.

The two winning managers are unable to comment on the issue for fear of disrepute reprisals, although both are disgruntled by the situation.

But 147 secretary Paul Childs has defended the league's stance, insisting that the situation was caused by confused administration rather than deliberate cheating.

"There was a mix-up and the teams fielded ineligible players," said Childs. "We fielded two that didn't qualify under the rule and I think South Marston had four.

"I wouldn't argue with the rule, but it is obviously written badly. It's a good decision to replay.

"Some of the other sides might be disappointed that we haven't been booted out, but I think it's fair."

Swindon and District League officials have also defended their decision to reinstate the offenders.

Discipline secretary Alan Jennings said: "The rule states that players must have played in at least four League or Wiltshire Junior Cup games to qualify.

"The rule isn't as clearly worded as it should be and we are looking at that, and in fairness to the clubs in question they had put the correct names on the teamsheet so they haven't tried to hide the fact.

"They were honest mistakes and we took this into consideration before advising that the games should be replayed. There is nothing in the rules to order us to disqualify an offending team and if other teams feel hard done by they will have to appeal to the Wilts FA."

The rearranged quarter-finals are due to be played this afternoon.