The Gully defeated Mandurang by four runs in their division one December 3-10 game in the Emu Valley Cricket Association.

However, it was discovered earlier this month that the Gully had only named 10 players on their team sheet prior to the match.

Under EVCA rules, Maiden Gully was subsequently stripped of its 12 points for winning the game, with those 12 points awarded to Mandurang.

Maiden Gully retained its additional 3.81 points from the game made up of runs and wickets taken, but had its position in the top four taken at the time by Mandurang to rub salt into the wounds.

The un-named player on the team sheet was Alex Gorrie, who opened the batting and made eight in the first innings and four in the second innings.

Maiden Gully appealed the EVCA decision on Wednesday night to an independent tribunal, which upheld the EVCA ruling.

“We took our right as a club to appeal and the independent tribunal has found that the EVCA followed due process and now we move on with the rest of the season,” Maiden Gully secretary Shane Rabbitt said on Thursday.

“There were some processes not done on game-day that the club appealed against, but it’s still not hiding from the fact that we made a mistake.

“It was an administration error… it wasn’t done to intentionally cheat and it’s one of those occasions where we have to learn from our mistakes.

“Something like this is probably a bit of a wake-up call to all the clubs to make sure that all processes are followed correctly.”

By having its appeal dismissed, Maiden Gully enters the last round 25.1 points outside the top four and its finals chances all but over.

Meanwhile, a Bendigo Advertiser poll that asked if the loss of match points for the Maiden Gully breach was harsh or fair finished in favour of it being harsh.

Of 216 votes received, 53.7 per cent voted for it being harsh, while 46.3 per cent agreed the penalty handed down fits.