Sunderland U23s have progressed to the semi-finals of the Durham FA Challenge Cup after Hartlepool United were unable to fulfil tonight's last eight tie.
Elliott Dickman's side had been due to face Pools in the quarter-final at Eppleton on Thursday night.
But Pools' youth team were in action on Wednesday lunchtime and the National League side advised the Durham FA that they would be unable to field a side for tonight's cup game.
And as a result, Durham FA have removed Pools from the competition and Sunderland will go through to the semi-finals where they will face Spennymoor Town, Seaham Red Star, or Stockton Town, with the draw due to be made on Friday.
In a statement, Durham FA company secretary John Topping expressed his 'disappointment' at Hartlepool's inability to fulfil the fixture as scheduled, noting that the date for the cup game had been fixed on January 14.
The full statement read: "The Durham County FA issued the dates for all rounds of the Challenge Cup in August 2019.
"As the competition progresses the teams left in the competition receive the draw for the next round via our Youtube Channel and email.
"On Friday 20th December 2019 Sunderland AFC and Hartlepool United FC were provided with the draw giving them 34 days to agree a date to play their fixture before the end of round date which, for the quarter-final, is Saturday 25th January 2020.
"Sunderland AFC scheduled the game to be played on Thursday 23rd January 2020 and Hartlepool United FC were informed of this on Tuesday 14th January 2020.
"County Cup Competitions take priority over League games.
"The cancellation of this fixture is very disappointing especially to the County FA and Sunderland AFC who have now got to cancel all preparations put in place."
