A pitchfork was brandished when a league match descended into half-time chaos.

Barmouth were at home to Greenfield when “all hell broke loose”, according to an eyewitness.

One Barmouth player was seen on the ground, apparently with a bloody nose, as a crowd gathered round him.

The pitchfork was then picked up by Greenfield coach Keith Ainsworth, who was sent off by the referee at the Wern Mynach ground.

One spectator told the Daily Post: “I was at one end and then as I started to walk back all hell broke loose.

“One of the Barmouth players was on the ground, he looked like he’d been smacked in the nose.

“The Greenfield guys were dragging one guy away.

“Then someone who appeared to be kitted up in the Greenfield kit picked up the fork and appeared to be heading towards the other lot, but he was dragged back to the changing room.”

The incident was dismissed as “handbags” by Greenfield bosses, although they said there had been goading about the club’s changing rooms being vandalised.

Greenfield chairman Denny Hogan said: “We had vandals trashing our changing rooms over a week ago and somebody from Barmouth allegedly made a comment about the damage.

“That was said, and there was a scuffle.”

(Image: Rodney Davies)

Mr Hogan said club coach Mr Ainsworth “didn’t throw it or gesture it at anybody”

He added: “He just picked it up. He did not threaten it against anybody.

“It was just handbags”.

Mr Hogan said it had been a “fiercely-contested” match with a Barmouth player being sent off in the second half on getting his second yellow card.

Barmouth chairman John Beaumont said: “I don’t know what caused it all to kick off.

“I knew one of our players had got a bloody nose and that the referee sent one of the Greenfield officials off.”

Referee Richard Burge said: “As I blew to finish the first half, and was walking back to the dressing room there was an argument between the two dug-outs and a flare-up which finished as soon as it had started.

“In that flare-up, the person who was part of the Greenfield squad did pick up a garden implement and used it in a threatening manner. The person I reported from Greenfield was dismissed from the ground on my recommdation.

“It was over as soon as it started. We call it hand-bags. This fella who picked up the implement will be subject to a Welsh FA disciplinary action and he will be given the opportunity to give his story.”

FAW press officer Ian Gwyn Hughes said they had not yet received a report from Mr Burge and could not comment until they had received one.

The Lock Stock Alliance match ended 3-1 to Greenfield.