PHIL Hucker’s first match in charge of Bridgwater Town ended in chaos after a reported mass brawl caused their match with Larkhall Athletic to be abandoned five minutes before full-time.
The Evo-Stik league website listed the match as abandoned due to fog, but claims later emerged that it was in fact trouble between the two sets of players that led to the referee calling an early end to proceedings.
Town manager Hucker confirmed that an internal investigation is taking place into the matter, and the club would proceed once that had been concluded.
The Robins were trailing 4-0 going in to the closing stages of the Evo-Stik Division 1 South & West fixture when a Bridgwater player is understood to have been sent off following a clash with Larkhall’s Geraint Bater, son of visiting manager Phil, in the penalty area.
Plenty of witnesses and was no doubt intentional as ball was nowhere near me. Seeing plastic surgeon this afternoon. #spewing pic.twitter.com/z0NOW9nFMY
— Geraint Bater (@Bates_1980) January 25, 2017
This allegedly led to players from both sides joining in the scrap, and another home player saw red as tempers boiled over at Fairfax Park.
It is believed Bater later needed hospital treatment for facial injuries sustained as a result of the incident, while further angry scenes were reportedly sparked near the dugout as the Larkhall man left the field.
The referee is then understood to have abandoned the game due to the violence.
Bridgwater Town are yet to release a club statement on the matter, due to the investigation taking place, while the Evo-Stik Southern League are also yet to comment as they wait on the referee's report.
Not quite sure what happened but the game has been abandoned with 5 minutes to go and the Larks 4-0 up....
— Larkhall Athletic FC (@LarkhallAFC) January 24, 2017
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