Police were called to an under-16 football game after one side claimed they were being intimidated.

Witney Viking Colts were playing Rose Hill on Sunday at Rose Hill recreation ground, Oxford, but the game was scrapped 10 minutes into the second half.

According to Graham Mills, the Colts' sponsor, their players were called off the pitch because they were being threatened by Rose Hill players and their supporters.

Rose Hill manager John Massingham denied that the Witney side were intimidated in any way during the Oxfordshire Football Association Invitation Youth League fixture. Mr Mills, the director of Buttercross Exotic Pets in Witney, claimed that the match was marred from the start by "intimidation from youths on the touchline drinking cans of Stella". He added: "By half-time, we were 3-0 down, but that was because our boys could not tackle through fear, and our goalie was a nervous wreck. For the safety of all from Witney, and the referee, I called the police. We kept together and managed to leave as the police arrived."

Mr Massingham said he was "flabbergasted" by the allegations of intimidation.

He added: "I spoke to the ref afterwards and he said it had been a good game. The only person who was booked was their centre-half."

"We were winning 6-0 at the time. That could be the reason they walked off."

Referee Peter Stroud said: "My report has gone to the FA. Nothing untoward happened."

Police spokesman Tim Wiseman said: "There was nothing happening when we arrived. No-one was hurt and no-one was arrested."