Another football game in Oxfordshire was abandoned at the weekend due to a confrontation between two rival players.

The match between Oxford's Headington Amateurs and Henley Town was brought to an end in the 85th minute because the referee feared for the safety of the players.

Chris Kidd, the 17-year-old referee, blew the whistle on the Oxfordshire Intermediate Cup match after someone ran onto the pitch to separate the two players at Barton Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Now the Oxfordshire Football Association will decide whether or not to replay the reserve team game, which finished 4-3 in favour of Headington Amateurs.

Brian King, who compiles the results for the Hellenic League, received a report that the match had been abandoned due to a "mass brawl" but both teams denied this was the case.

Tony Kington, secretary of Henley Town, who was not at the game, said: "I understand that the 17-year-old ref had completely lost control of the game.

"Five minutes from the end, two players got into a confrontation and someone from the touchline came onto the pitch to try to pull them apart, and the ref said 'we are finishing it'. Perhaps if he had been a bit more experienced he would have finished the game.

"As far as I know, the game will now have to be replayed."

Steve Giles, secretary of Headington Amateurs, added: "The game was not played in a bad spirit but there were a couple of flashpoints.

"These two players had a confrontation but it was handbags - nothing more. The ref was booking two other players at the time for pushing each other.

"The people went onto the pitch to make sure there was no fighting, not to cause any trouble, and I fully expect there to be a replay."

Alan Spence, a member of the Oxfordshire Football Association, who organised the competition, said: "I understand the match was abandoned after 85 minutes because things were getting a bit heated, but I have not seen the referee's report, so there could be a perfectly innocent explanation.

"It may be necessary for the FA to hold a disciplinary hearing into the conduct of both clubs.

"If the competitions committee agree, I expect there will be a replay in the New Year, on January 21, the date of the next round."

The Oxford Mail also received a report yesterday of yet another confrontation involving footballers.

A Chalgrove mum, who did not want to be named, said she saw two teams fighting yesterday on a football pitch near the village green.

She said: "I was walking with my 10-year-old daughter and we saw two teams of grown men fighting. My daughter was very upset."