A MAN accused of attacking two others in a pub melee later lined up against his alleged victims in a soccer match.

Burnley Crown Court heard defendant Christopher Heyes, 28, was captain of Woodnook while Brendan Georgy and Andrew Taylor were members of Knuzden FC, which played in the pre-season "friendly," midway through Heyes' trial.

Heyes later claimed Mr Georgy told him at the game, which Knuzden won 3-0, that he knew he had not hit him. He was yesterday cleared of violence charges after a week-long trial.

Mr Georgy had earlier been recalled to court to go in the witness box again and Heyes' barrister suggested he had lied giving evidence and had "let the cat out of the bag," on the pitch.

The defendant, of Alice Street, Accrington, was found not guilty of two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm and two alternative allegations of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was discharged from the dock.