Southern Counties East League match between Lydd Town and Fisher abandoned after supporters “entered the pitch to abuse several players”

A Southern Counties East Premier Division game was abandoned on Saturday after supporters entered the pitch to abuse opposition players.

The claim was made in a statement issued by Lydd Town after their home match with Fisher was abandoned in stoppage time.

A statement from Lydd said: “Unfortunately, the referee had decided to abandon the game due to a numerous number of supporters from the opposition entered the pitch to abuse several players of the Lydd Team verbally and physically.

“Lydd Town do not condone verbal or physical assault of any kind. The Lydd Town players involved will be dealt with internally for their retaliation to the opposition’s supporters.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to the management team of Fisher for their numerous attempts to diffuse the situation and wish them luck for the rest of the season.”

Fisher’s account on social media platform X doesn’t mention any supporters entering the field of play.

They posted: “A lot of confusion here but the referee has blown the final whistle without the penalty being taken. The game being abandoned deep into added time with Fisher leading 3-2.”

They then added in a further post: “Fisher were leading 3-2 with seconds remaining and earned a second penalty. A confrontation between the teams appeared to die down and the teams lined up for penalty. But the whistle was blown prior to the kick being taken which seems to indicate an abandonment.”

Lydd had raced into a two-goal lead in the first 17 minutes thanks to Eri Akintimehim and Dean Grant. But a Thomas Ngegba brace either side of half-time and a Callum Flynn penalty in stoppage time turned the game on its head.

Fisher had Manny Shoderu sent off in the first half while Lydd were reduced to 10