HOOLIGANS caused the abandonment of last night's Uniject County League Division Two clash between Southwick and Storrington at Old Barn Way.

Horsham referee Charles Waltham halted the clash after 67 minutes after youths, standing outside the perimeter fence, threw a bottle on to the pitch which then smashed.

Assistant referee Mike Barron was also hit twice with pellets fired from a spud gun.

Efforts were made to clear the broken glass but the pitch was deemed too dangerous to continue play.

Mr Waltham said: " I couldn't be certain that there was no more glass on the pitch so I had no choice but to abandon the game.

"The players' safety is paramount. Someone could have been badly hurt if the game had continued and I wouldn't want that on my conscience."

Both managers agreed with Mr Waltham's decision. Storrington boss Bob Paine said: "We couldn't possibly continue. One act of stupidity has spoilt it for everyone. "It was a shame because it was a cracking game."

The match stood at 1-1 at the time of abandonment.

Simon Friend-James' 32nd-minute opener for Storrington had been cancelled out by Richard Carter's 53rd-minute equaliser.

The two sides will now have to replay the match at a later date.

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