THIS weekend's FA Cup fourth round action featured an end to one of the more unusual stories in the competition this year – 'the Whyteleafe Curse'.

A story which features Taunton Town alongside Premier League giants Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur... but what is it?

It starts, appropriately enough, with Whyteleafe, a Surrey-based club which plays in the Isthmian League.

Back in September, 'the Leafe' were thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player, and Corinthian Casuals were reinstated.

The player in question was Adekunle Odutolu, who had previously been registered under the name Taiwo Odutolu – unknown to Whyteleafe, according to the club statement.

Their appeal was rejected, and Corinthian Casuals went on to lose 3-0 (in a replay) to St Albans City in second round qualifying.

National League South side St Albans then visited the Viridor Stadium and were beaten 5-2, the Peacocks putting in a brilliant performance on a special night for the home fans.

But Taunton became the next team to be struck down by the curse, beaten 1-0 at home by Billericay Town after drawing 2-2 in Essex.

Billericay met National League side (and FA Cup semi-finalists in 1997) Chesterfield in the first round proper, drew 1-1, but then lost 3-1 at home.

Could Chesterfield beat the curse? No. They lost 2-0 to visiting Grimsby Town, of League Two, in December.

Grimsby met their end in the third round, beaten 1-0 away to top flight side Crystal Palace.

Yesterday saw Roy Hodgson's men attempt to exorcise the ghost of Whyteleafe, at home to Champions League mainstays Tottenham – and they did it!

Connor Wickham and Andros Townsend's goals, and Kieran Trippier's horror penalty miss, secured a 2-0 win for Palace.

The curse overcome, Palace are surely now destined to reach Wembley, which will be worth it just to see Hodgson's interpretation of that Alan Pardew dance.