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Colne captain Gary Laycock has blasted Lancashire League officials after his appeal against a two-match ban was dismissed at a hearing last night.

The 30-year-old skipper has branded the decision as an 'absolute joke' after hearing he will now miss his side's Worsley Cup semi-final clash with Haslingden on Sunday.

Laycock had appealed against the penalty imposed following an incident in Colne's EW Cartons Lancashire League game at Enfield last month when he was reported for using foul language and failing to control his team.

But the league's appeals committee last night upheld the original decision of the league's disciplinary panel at a meeting at Accrington Cricket Club and Laycock must now sit out Colne's league game at Rishton on Saturday as well as Sunday's semi final clash.

``I think it's an absolute joke. I'm totally gutted,'' said Laycock.

``They've used no common sense as far as I can see and if they were going to punish me it should have been a suspended ban.

``The club has been fined and Joe Scuderi and Nick Moulding have already been punished.

``Why they are holding me responsible just because I'm the captain is ridiculous.

``Who is going to want to be a captain now if people know that when a player steps out of line, they're going to get punished as well?

``It's absolutely crazy.''

Moulding was already ruled out for the visit of Haslingden after being hit by a four-match ban arising from his part in the same incident.

But the further loss of Laycock is sure to come as a hammer blow to the Horsfield club as they attempt to make the Worsley Cup final for the second year running.

``I know when I appealed I didn't think I'd be missing the semi-final because I thought I had a good case,'' said Laycock.

``I had the support of a lot of other captains in the league and I didn't think it would come to this.

``At no stage during the game did any umpire come up to me and say 'Gary, have a word'.

``Otherwise, I would have stepped in straight away.

``But everyone knows how much sledging goes on in the Lancashire League anyway. It's all part and parcel of the game.''

``A couple of our lads just got a bit over excited because they were so hyped up to win.

But how am I supposed to stop that before it happens?''