METALTEC SIL chairman Keith Norton did not have the balls to make the third round Omnico Cup draw.The former Achilles manager and goalkeeper had to delay the draw after arriving at BBC Radio Suffolk with some of the 32 balls missing.

Elvin King

METALTEC SIL chairman Keith Norton did not have the balls to make the third round Omnico Cup draw.

The former Achilles manager and goalkeeper had to delay the draw after arriving at BBC Radio Suffolk with some of the 32 balls missing.

He had to re-group at Paul's Sports Club, Ipswich later in the evening to draw the 16 ties for a competition that gives junior sides a chance to become giant killers against senior opposition.

“I hold my hands up, it was my fault,” explained Keith. “There was a bit of a rush as we had to wait for all Saturday's results to come in and then get down to the studio and get the draw completed before the Ipswich Town match kicked-off at 5.20pm.

“When I came to take the balls out of the bag some were missing as I had left them at home.

“I was going to watch the Ipswich Town game on TV at Paul's social club, so took all the balls with me and oversaw a draw that was made by Suffolk FA vice chairman Peter Cocker and Achilles chairman Dave Morgan.

“We did it at half-time in front of loads of witnesses although Dave will be pleased that his side received a home draw.”

On another more serious matter, the SIL are concerned about comments being made on the Green'Un website.

A statement was issued this week which said: “These notes will be monitored and the chairman, secretary and press officer of any club that publishes inappropriate material will be required to appear before our committee.”

Keith said: “Any disparaging remarks reflect badly on the league, and it is something we want to sort out.”