AN AMATEUR footballer who admitted punching an opponent has been acquitted of assault.

Daniel Gailor, 22, of Danes Road, Bicester, was yesterday cleared of assaulting Lewis McGowan, 35, causing actual bodily harm, following a match on May 3, 2012.

Mr Gailor admitted punching Mr McGowan and causing the injuries, but said it was self-defence.

In the trial, which began on Monday, Oxford Crown Court heard Mr Gailor was playing in a Thursday five-a-side match for Pitch Park Rangers at Bicester Sports Centre against Non-Agile Argyle. The defendant was sent off after tackling Mr McGowan but was allowed backe before the game ended.

The court heard Mr Gailor confronted Mr McGowan after the match, asking why he was always kicking him.

He said Mr Gailor had ‘a bee in his bonnet’ and threw a punch at him.

But Mr Gailor, who works at the M40 Cherwell Valley Services near Ardley, told the cout Mr McGowan had threatened him and had “dashed” towards him.

Mr Gailor said : “I reacted, I saw somebody who had just threatened to knock me out run towards me and I backed away and swung a punch with my weaker hand.”

The jury of seven women and five men took just 25 minutes to clear him.