A POTENTIAL title decider between Sunday League soccer rivals was re-played behind closed doors after crowd violence forced the original game to be abandoned.

Around 180 supporters clashed when Kings Inn and Old Toll Bar met in a Blackburn Sunday League Division One top of the table game on April 21.

The game was abandoned and both teams have been charged by the Lancashire FA for bringing the game into disrepute.

Last night the match was played again after being moved from Pleasington Playing Fields to Darwen FC's Anchor Ground.

Fans were locked out -- the first time a game has been held behind closed doors in the league's 32-year history.

Stewards from Darwen FC were on hand to ensure no fans gained entry as were representatives from the league.

A group of supporters were left peering over a wall into the ground. Several fans were turned away at the gate, which was manned by league officials.

Police were present before kick-off and remained on standby in case of trouble but the game, which finished in a 1-1 draw, passed off without major incident.

Tempers flared on a couple of occasions but only one yellow card was shown, late in the second half.

Darwen FC chairman Kath Marah said the ground had been rented by the league, although it is thought the clubs will foot the bill.

She said: "The price is usually around £50 depending on the circumstances and whether we make any money from the refreshment bar. We have a deal with the league beacuse they use us for so many matches, but as it is a closed doors games I am not sure of the price. With every game we provide stewards."

John Howarth, president of the Blackburn Sunday League, said bad conduct would not be tolerated and that both clubs could face expulsion from the league if a similar incident occurred again.

He said: "We have warned both clubs over their future conduct and have fined them, which they have accepted.

"Only 22 players, five substitutes from each team and club officials were allowed on the Anchor Ground. Anyone else was not welcome.

"We felt it was important to get this game played because the players were not at fault."

The original game was abandoned after an incident on the pitch between two players sparked the violence which forced the referee to call the match off.

Kings Inn and Old Toll Bar occupy the top two positions in the league respectively with just two points separating them.

After the game, the managers and league officials insisted there was no bad blood between the teams and said they wanted to put the previous match behind them.

Mr Howarth said: "They are two of the top teams in the league and are big rivals. There was a lot of interest in the game at Pleasington and I have to say I have never seen so many people at a league match for quite some time.

"The match itself was not dirty and there had only been one caution. But because the incident between the two players happened right on the touchline it sparked the trouble between the supporters."

Peter Fryer, manager of the Kings Inn, added: "The trouble at Pleasington escalated into a free-for-all with spectators from both sides involved.

"It was all a bit silly and we want to put it behind us. There is no problems between the club officials, it was just a bit of trouble with the fans."

A spokesman for the LFA said: "Both clubs have been charged with conduct deemed to bring the game into disrepute and we are awaiting the clubs to reply to those charges before taking further action."

Secretaries for both clubs said they did not wish to comment on the incident which led to the game being replayed behind closed doors.