MAIDSTONE United will play in the FA Cup this Saturday after the Football Association cleared the club of playing an unregistered played in the last round against Hythe.

Defender Paul Ribbens appeared as a second half substitute in the second qualifying round win despite still being registered with Dr Martens League Dartford.

However, at an FA hearing in London a three-man committee accepted Stones chairman Paul Bowden-Brown's defence that the Kent League made an administrative error and not the club. Kent League secretary Roy Vinter was also in London to argue on behalf of Maidstone.

The result means Maidstone will take on Rymna Premier Division side Bishop's Stortford at Sittingbourne's Bourne Park on Saturday. Ribbens is unavailable because of a back injury.