THE Cotswold Hills League Premier Division title could be decided across a committee room table.

Exhall and Wixford were deducted five points at last Wednesday's executive committee meeting for failing to ring in a result on July 15 - a move that leaves the current leaders nine points clear of Shipston at the summit with just one game left.

"The players had a shock when they arrived at Overbury last Saturday and saw a revised league table on the notice board," said Exhall chairman John Canning.

"They all got rather excited about it because when they set off they were a point clear and when they arrived they found themselves four points behind Shipston. We have had no notification by letter from the league but Steve Cranton, who is on the executive committee, confirmed their decision."

Mr Canning admitted that the club had failed to post the results sheet in time - a task he undertakes personally each home game.

"My father had been unwell and it just escaped my mind," he recalled. "I ensured they got it the day after together with a covering letter. It was then discovered that the phone call hadn't been made either and the league docked us the points last week."

However, an Exhall player, who works in London during the week, is adamant he made the call on Saturday evening and he has the phone bill to prove it! A copy of which confirming all the required information was expected to arrive with Mr Canning yesterday.

"I spoke to the league chairman Roger Watts and told him the situation and he said that if it could be confirmed that the call was made then the league would take a second look at their decision."

Mr Watts confirmed the position on Tuesday evening, adding: "As far as we know no phone call was made. But I have suggested that Exhall get their evidence together and we will reconsider our decision.

"It's all a bit silly really because Mr Canning originally wrote to explain the lateness of the report sheet and it came out that the result had not been phoned in.

"All clubs are aware of the penalty, so it's no good moaning about it after the event."

Mr Watts added that he felt there wouldn't be time to rectify the situation either way before Saturday, so the championship could stay unresolved if Shipston can trim Exhall's lead to five points or less.

The defending champions visit Overbury, where Exhall claimed 18 points last weekend, while the current table toppers visit Elmley Castle.