AN HISTORIC football game descended into violence when fans invaded the pitch.

Tadcaster Albion fans were dreaming of Wembley at the start of their crucial FA Vase quarter-final replay against Highworth Town.

However, what followed was a narrow defeat in front of a record 1,307 fans and a mass brawl on the pitch after the final whistle, which saw punches thrown by both sets of players and fans.

Video footage has been posted on YouTube showing the disorder at the end of the game:

Highworth chairman Rohan Haines suffered a bloody nose when the mass brawl erupted at Ings Stadium following the Brewers' 1-0 defeat to the Wiltshire outfit.

Matthew Gore, chairman of Tadcaster Albion, claimed fighting had begun in the club's bar at half-time.

He said: "The reality is that one of their fans had been throwing coins - their official has apologised to us for it.

"Two minutes before the end of the game, the officials and their fans walked right round to the corner for a pitch invasion.

"But then the same young man, who they’d already apologised for, comes running amongst all of our hardcore fans, goading them, waving his arms, saying ‘come on then’.

"One of our fans runs on and rugby tackles him."

Pockets of fighting broke out and both sets of players had to be separated to opposite ends of the pitch to diffuse the melee.

Paul Marshall, Tadacster Albion manager, added: "There were a few punches thrown, which was very unsavoury and its not what we want to see at non-league football.

"I’m really really upset, I feel sick to the stomach about what’s happened there.

"There needs to be a full enquiry into it."