Luke Wilkinson (left) has had his red card from Saturday's defeat at Southend United rescinded. Pic: Dave Simpson/TGSPHOTO

Wilkinson ban overturned

Joshua Richards Tuesday, September 11, 2012
5:33 PM

Dagenham & Redbridge defender Luke Wilkinson has had his red card from Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Southend United rescinded

Dagenham & Redbridge defender Luke Wilkinson, who was sent off eight minutes into his first league start for the club at Southend United on Saturday, has had his red card rescinded by the Football Association.

The central defender was dismissed by referee Lee Collins, with the score at 0-0, for an apparent trip on former team-mate Gavin Tomlin who was bearing down on goal.

Manager John Still was seething at the official afterwards as he side went on to lose 3-1.

“I was disappointed with some of the decisions,” Still said on Saturday. “They didn’t help us. It wasn’t necessarily the reason we lost, but it didn’t help us to try and win.

“I’m adamant that it wasn’t a sending off. You’d like to think when you go a man down it’s for an obvious reason and that’s what’s disappointing.”

After reviewing video evidence, which showed defender Femi Ilesanmi back and covering and minimal contact, if any, on Tomlin, the FA have rescinded Wilkinson’s ban.

The 20-year-old, former Portsmouth defender, will be eligible for Dagenham & Redbridge’s League Two clash with Accrington Stanley on Saturday.