Tamworth manager Mark Cooper has reacted with stunned amazement after learning that Danny Davidson has been given a red card - 72 hours after the alleged offences.

The Lambs striker is ruled out of tomorrow's FA Trophy last 16 tie with visitors Dagenham & Redbridge after the club were informed referee Mark Haywood had blundered in last week's match against Stevenage Borough by booking Nathan Jackson instead of Davidson. Since Davidson was also booked, he should have been sent off.

"Danny Davidson went in with their left-back and the referee deemed it was a booking. But he booked Nathan Jackson and though Danny said it was him the ref said he wasn't interested," said Cooper.

"Then Danny was walking away from a free-kick in the second half when the Stevenage player took the kick and the ball hit him and he was booked for encroaching. It was comical.

"But we then get a fax from the FA on Tuesday saying the referee had got it wrong, and that since Danny should have been booked he now had a red-card and an automatic one-match ban. To make matters worse, because it arrived so late just before the transfer deadline, we couldn't go and bring in any other players."

The Lambs will have to make two further changes to the squad on duty last week when they have to rule out Peter Folkes and Scott Rick-ards to face Conference rivals Dagenham. Defender Folkes is struggling with a medial knee ligaments injury, while striker Rickards, a member of Tamworth's 2003 Trophy final team, is cup-tied.

Dagenham defeated Tam-worth 2-0 in league action in east London two weeks ago but the Lambs have chalked up back-to-back wins to boost their confidence.

"On their day, Dagenham are as good as anyone in the league," said Cooper.

"But we have had two great results and we need to keep it going."