Rochester United have a week to respond to charges of failing to fulfil a fixture.

The Spartans claim they were unable to face Beckenham at the weekend because of a lack of players, due to illness, injuries and unavailability.

The case will be dealt with at the Southern Counties East Football League’s next disciplinary meeting, which is scheduled for January 29.

Rochester, managed jointly by Paul Gross and Darren Anslow and sitting second bottom in the Premier Division, have been charged under league rule 8.37 for failure to fulfil a fixture.

They are likely to be hit with a fine but could also incur a points deduction.

League rules state that “any club without just cause failing to fulfil an engagement to play a competition match on the appointed date shall for each offence be liable to expulsion from the competition and/or such other disciplinary action the board may determine, including the deduction of up to a maximum of three points from the offending Club’s record, any expenses incurred by their opponents, and a fine.

“The board may award points to the club not at fault as if the match had been played and the League table shall reflect the position as if the match had been played with the result awarded by the Board.”

Rochester informed officials and their opponents on the morning of the game and are hoping the league go easy on them.

Club secretary Tony Wheeler said: “We had been trying since the Thursday to get a team together and even had a couple ring up on Saturday morning to say they were ill.

“We don’t like having to concede a game, we wanted to play it, but unfortunately we couldn’t field a side. It’s the first time we’ve had it happen to us.

“We weren’t looking to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. It was a genuine case.”