Following Leam Howards sending off against Hitchin Town last Saturday, the club took the advice of a former Premier League referee who after viewing the video of the incident considered that there was a case for appealing the red card that was issued.

The club duly put in an appeal to the FA and submitted as required the video evidence.

We have though received written confirmation this afternoon that the appeal has been dismissed and that the suspension which begins tomorrow remains in place

As this was Leam's second red card of the season he receives a four match ban. He will thus miss the game at Bishops Stortford tomorrow and then the games against Redditch United, Basingstoke Town and Hereford.