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Non league match punch-up leads to arrests with fans taken to hospital

Grim details have emerged over a non league match pitch invasion and punch-up which leads to arrests with fans being taken to hospital.

It’s reported that around 50 people invaded the pitch during the Southern League game between Farnborough and Merthyr Town on Saturday, said Hampshire Police.

Three males were arrested after brawling in the car park after using bricks and sticks leaving their victims hurt following the game.

Fighting then broke out as fans were on their way out of the stadium on Cherrywood Road, with three people having hospital treatment.

The arrested men remain in police custody, including a 26-year-old from Aberdaire, a 25-year-old from Bristol and a 32-year-old from Blackfield who are being questioned over public order offences.

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MERTHYR TOWN STATEMENT:

The club are aware of an incident at the Farnborough game on 4th December, which resulted in a number of Merthyr fans requiring hospital treatment. Thankfully they are now recovering, and have returned home.

The Board are convening an emergency meeting to understand the situation, and will be working with Farnborough FC, the Southern League and the police to address the incident.

POLICE STATEMENT:

“We’ve launched an investgation after fighting and disorder broke out at the football match between Farnborough and Merthyr Town at the teams stadium.

“Our officers were called to the teams home ground in Cherrywood Road, Farnborough after some fans invaded the pitch and fights then broke out in the car park as people left the stadium.

“There were around 500 supporters at the Southern League Premier Division game and it’s thought around 50 were involved in the pitch invasion.

“We’re now asking for anyone with information about what happened or mobile phone footage showing what went on, particularly outside in the car park to contact us.

“Three people were taken to Frimley Park Hospital with injuries and are being treated. It’s believed at least one of the injuries happened after the victim was attacked with a brick. It’s thought stick were used in the fighting too.

“Three men have been arrested and are currently in police custody. The three, one aged 26 and from Aberdaire, another aged 25 and from Bristol and the third aged 32 and from Blackfield have all been arrested on suspicion of public order offences.

“Anyone with information or footage of what happened is asked to call officers at Aldershot’s Response and Patrol team on 101.”

MATCH REPORT:

Farnborough came from behind to beat a struggling Merthyr Town 3-2 in front of 506 fans in attendance, writes Tom Peel.

The away side hadn’t won in ten straight games, with their last one coming against Metropolitan Police.

Boro however were coming off of a good midweek win against Harrow Borough which saw them come out 2-1 winners, but losing striker David Pratt in the process. This forced Farnborough into one change from the previous game with Michael Fernandes replacing the injured striker.

The best chance in the first 12 minutes went to Jordan Rose who hit the crossbar from a Sam Deering free-kick. This then led to Merthyr Town going up the other end with Keyon Reffell on the counter attack who runs past the defence and tucked the ball into the bottom right corner past Dante Baptiste on 13 minutes. Farnborough 0-1 Merthyr Town.

Farnborough looked very shaky for the majority of the first half, with Merthyr Town looking comfortable letting the hosts have the majority of the ball and just waiting to hit them on the counter. This very tactic was on full display again in the 40th minute as the Farnborough midfield were dispossessed in the middle of the pitch. Merthyr Town went up the other end, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson got the ball on the attack for the visitors and went straight past Medford-Smith and tucked the ball past the keeper. Farnborough 0-2 Merthyr Town.

The second half began with Louie Paget coming off for Paul Hodges and Farnborough were looking revitalized. Within minutes, the newly introduced substitute took the ball forward past the trailing Merthyr Town defenders and played the ball to Holmes who returned the favour with a cross played into the box which Hodges got on the end of but just could convert.

Boro looked comfortable on the ball and a lot more positive in the second half with a flurry of chances coming within the first 10 minutes of the second half, which led to the home sides first goal of the game. Holmes played a killer ball through the back-line to Michael Fernandes who took the ball in his stride and tucked it past the keeper in the far corner of the net. Farnborough 1-2 Merthyr Town.

The away side had a chance to get another not long after but a heavy touch from Jones landed into the thankful hands of the Boro goalkeeper.

Aside from the chance for Jones, Farnborough were beginning to dominate. Substitutes Watts and Cooksley, who came on for Medford-Smith and Saied, brought a new sense of purpose to the team who began to push on for the equaliser.

The constant pressure that the home side were applying finally paid off in the 81st minute as a good bit of link up play between Watts and Hodges saw Elis Watts played through into the box and the substitute took his chance with a clinical finish into the bottom right to level up the game. Farnborough 2-2 Merthyr Town.

The ball was now almost exclusively Farnborough’s as the home side searched for the winner which would eventually come in the 92nd minute of the game. Sam Deering whipped the ball in from a free-kick which bounced around the box deflecting of the Merthyr Town defenders until the ball fell to Paul Hodges who converted the ball home and snatched all 3 points for the home side. Farnborough 3-2 Merthyr Town.

Twitter users reacted as the non league match punch-up leads to arrests with fans taken to hospital…

@redflagmartyrs: Diolch to @NathanFlipEvans for volunteering to stay back with our lad. @FarnboroughFC need to look internally re disorder – lady steward at away end was v brave, but why were the culprits allowed to intimidate during the game? Chief steward = clueless. he ran from the blood

@NathanFlipEvans: Merthyr fans got attacked in the stands, no one was on the pitch. Farnborough players also jumped into the crowd attacking away fans

@NathanFlipEvans: @FarnboroughFC shambles of a club, two Merthyr fans for bricked in the head and stewards done fuck all. Their captain throwing punches got done mind

@Gurnosminis: What???? Unbelievable

@Dafydd56: A few of the Farnborough lot were throwing bricks at our boys

@TheBoroWalk: All kicked off at the final whistle with a player pile in as the away fans filtered out. I’m guessing something really big and really clever was said.

@JimSpim: It was pretty awful to watch (as a neutral). Pissed-up fans on the pitch and even some aggro at half time. @FarnboroughFC should be ashamed and maybe ban a few loudmouths for a season.

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