DIDCOT Town chairman John Bailey has leapt to the defence of his players after crowd trouble caused their match against Hereford to be abandoned.

Many Bulls supporters felt that some of the home players overreacted after a handful of fans encroached onto the pitch shortly after Mike Symons put Hereford 2-1 up.

Video footage shows one fan approach Didcot goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell before being escorted off the pitch by Carl Haffenden, a volunteer who records matches for Hereford.

Defender Sam Elkins is later seen pushing Haffenden and a supporter, resulting in a melee.

Video: Graham Johnson.

More pushing and shoving occurred by the players’ tunnel as stewards tried to escort the players off the pitch.

Two 19-year-old men – both from Hereford – have since been arrested, one for assault and the other for a public order offence.

“The league and the FA will come back with what they think happened, but we feel we did everything we could during the game,” said Bailey.

“We employed stewards from Hereford who were ‘spotters’ to prevent any trouble.

“I don’t have any problems with Hereford Football Club – they have a great chairman and a great committee – but you cannot foresee mindless idiots who were only interested in causing trouble.

"Our goalkeeper had beer chucked on him throughout the game, with coins and a lighter also thrown in the goalmouth.

“Our goal was covered in money and a smoke bomb was also thrown. If that had hit him, it would have burned him.”

Bailey added that his players were ‘merely protecting Bedwell’ and did nothing wrong.

“The players didn’t do anything until they came onto the pitch,” said Bailey. "They surrounded our goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell and were goading him to fight.

“The Hereford and Didcot players tried to get them off the pitch and then there was just a big melee. We called the police and they arrested some people."

Bailey added that the club were unaware that some supporters were ejected from local pubs prior to kick-off.

“They turn up singing, which was fine, but as soon as the game started they were vile, I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said Bailey.

“I think Hereford have got fantastic supporters, but those people weren’t supporters.

“There were people in their 50s and 60s off their head, it was absolutely ridiculous.

“It was just a Southern League game and we wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and cheer their team. We put a BBQ on for them and we didn’t want to treat them any differently just because they came in large numbers.

“It was just a few mindless idiots who have jumped on the bandwagon.”

Haffenden, meanwhile, believes the game would have continued had the Didcot players not have intervened.

“I grabbed the fan and dragged him off the pitch when Sam Elkins ran over and pushed the individual, who appeared to hit his head on the fence surrounding the pitch,” said Haffenden.

“Players from both teams came in from all angles there was lots of pushing and shoving.

“Eventually it all disbursed on the pitch and Hereford manager Pete Beadle came round the side of the pitch and was among fans, telling them that they shouldn’t have gone on the pitch.”

Elkins said he only got involved because some Hereford fans started pushing Bedwell.

“What the original video doesn’t show is our keeper having bottles, lighters and coins thrown at him,” said Elkins.

“Smoke bombs were then thrown onto the pitch and Hereford fans squared up to and pushed the goalkeeper around, hence the reaction from the players.”

Hereford supporter Andrew Graham is a former public order tactical advisor and was at the game.

“I wasn’t impressed with the throwing of beers, containers, flares and whatever else at their keeper – it’s unacceptable and has to end if we are to be allowed to travel,” said Graham.

“There were a dozen or so that were intent on abusing their keeper verbally and by throwing beer over and occasionally spitting.

“I possibly recall three lads going on to the pitch, one who immediately got back off.

“So, the situation was that we had two lads on the pitch and they were being dealt with.

“Then, the Didcot players totally immersed themselves in what can only be described as a collective assault on the pitch invaders – whether they deserved this or not is not the issue, players or indeed anyone else cannot do this.

“Trouble again flared on the pitch near to the players tunnel.

“I really hope that the FA take a rational look at this and also examine what these clubs have in place to limit the sale of alcohol, deal with drunkenness and acknowledge the fact that football has this unfortunate element."