Herne Bay are back in the Velocity Trophy after Whitstable were charged with fielding a cup-tied player against them and kicked out of the competition.

The Oystermen won 2-1 at Winch’s Field last Tuesday but it is Bay who now progress to round three, where they will play Isthmian Premier Margate on Tuesday, February 1.

It is understood the charge relates to Whitstable playing Callum Watts, one of their scorers, who had played in former club Grays’ shoot-out win over Barking in December.

A statement from Bay on Tuesday (yesterday) read: “Herne Bay have been reinstated into the Velocity Cup and will now face Margate at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday, February 1.

“Whitstable Town were charged with playing a ‘cup-tied’ player, and the league’s procedures are now complete and we can announce our reinstatement.”

Whitstable confirmed the news today, stating: "Following the 2-1 win at Herne Bay in the second round of the Velocity Trophy on January 11, it was discovered that one of the Whitstable players had featured in the previous round for a different club.

"Yesterday, we learned the outcome of the league decision that, as a result, Herne Bay will be reinstated and travel to play Margate in the third round.

"We are grateful to the league for their understanding and (we) accept that, under the rules, our administrative oversight means that we have to be removed from the competition.

"We would like to apologise to the players who fought so hard to win the game at Herne Bay and also to the Whitstable supporters who share our disappointment that we are unable to continue in the competition."

Bay's match at Chichester will now take place on Tuesday, February 8, as a result.