CHRIS SHERRARD BLAME GAME ANNAGH WIN TO STAY TO THE

By No Seahaven of peace as Portstewart and Sport & Leisure clash and both clubs claim to be the innocent party in fracas

UGLY scenes involving punchups, pitch invasions and the police sullied the local game on Saturday.

Portstewart’s match against Sport and Leisure Swifts was abandoned amid acrimony and the type of violence which should be nowhere near a game of football.

The referee called the game off with 70 minutes on the clock and police were tasked to restore order.

The Swifts claim their new midfielder Stephen Mcalorum lost a tooth after being headbutted when a spectator ran on to the pitch at Seahaven.

Portstewart, in response, have “refuted” weekend media reports that appeared to indicate they were solely to blame for the fracas.

In scenes not welcome at any football arena, the wife of one of the Portstewart players is alleged to have been struck during an ensuing brawl.

For their part, NIFL have said they will await the referee’s report and the views of the IFA’S disciplinary committee before taking action.

Seahawks manager Johnny Law (below) told Match On Tuesday: “Portstewart as a club refute any comments made by Sport and Leisure in regards to the unsavoury scenes at Seahaven on Saturday.

“As a club we are very confident that the referee’s report will clearly state the guilty parties involved.

“We would also like to state that we do not take lightly any threats that were made in regards to the return game and will be seeking legal advice on this matter.

“We will be holding a meeting to try and identify the spectator who entered the field and gather any other information relevant.” A Sport and Leisure Swifts spokesman said they are waiting for the verdict of the disciplinary committee.

They added: “We are disappointed with the abandonment of our fixture against Portstewart on Saturday. “However, we feel the referee was left with no alternative after our players were attacked, leaving one with bad facial injuries. “Another was headbutted, breaking his front teeth.

A RARE midweek run-out of league action sees Ciaran Mcgurgan’s Annagh welcome Newington to Portadown this evening.

A win would take Annagh back to the top of the table and still with a game in hand on Queen’s.

Newington are also involved in the only PIL fixture scheduled for Saturday with a home game against Lisburn Distillery.

“So we will wait on the IFA investigation before we make any other statement.” The Northern Ireland Football League said: “We are aware of the abandonment of the Premier Intermediate League game between Portstewart and Sport and Leisure Swifts but we are currently awaiting the submission of the referee’s report regarding the match.

“This will require, in the first instance, consideration from the Irish FA Disciplinary Committee under article 23, before any further action from the NI Football League.”