Tonbridge Angels have been denied an FA Trophy reprieve.

Angels lost 1-0 at Gosport Borough in a second-round tie in November.

It subsequently emerged their opponents, who went on to beat Worthing on penalties in round three, had fielded an ineligible player against Jay Saunders’ side.

Tonbridge were hoping to be reinstated but it’s Worthing who will host Torquay in the last 32 this Saturday.

An Angels statement said: “The Football Association has informed Tonbridge Angels that they will not reinstate our club into the FA Trophy following the removal of Gosport Borough after they were proven to have played an ineligible player against us in round two of the competition.

“As a board we will continue to pursue our protest with the Football Association regarding the process of checking player eligibility promptly that has effectively led to the decision to refuse our reinstatement into the competition.

“No further statement will be made until this process has been concluded.”

Tonbridge’s New Year’s Day league game at Hornchurch was abandoned after 37 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

It was 1-1 at the time, with Nazir Bakrin cancelling out Ollie Muldoon’s opener for the Urchins.

Tonbridge boss Jay Saunders told Angels TV: “Once you entered the field of play you can understand why the game was abandoned.

“There were a few doubts when we first got here because of a heavy downpour but then it eased off.

“It didn’t surprise me, it is more for players’ welfare.

“We wanted to carry on because we were playing quite well given the conditions. But when you went on to the pitch you understood just how bad it was with players struggling to keep their footing.”

Tonbridge, 10th in National League South, host eighth-placed Weston at Longmead this Saturday (3pm).