TIVERTON Town drew 0-0 at home to Bideford in a feisty FA Cup tie at Ladysmead yesterday.
This Devon derby took just three minutes to boil over.
A James Richards lunge saw the visitors angrily react and within seconds 20 players were involved in a mass brawl.
All the officials and both benches were involved in trying to calm the situation down. The only card shown was red to ex-Bideford forward - and Tivvy’s top scorer - Owen Howe, to the shock of the home supporters.
It got worse for ten man Tivvy in the 16th minute as Adam Bilcock suffered a recurrence of his knee injury and was stretchered off.
There was hardly any goalmouth action the first half and the second wasn’t much better. Sub Kevin Squire headed wide for the Robins, then Chris Wright pulled off a great save from a Richard Groves free-kick.
Tivvy’s Dan Western sent a shot straight at keeper Lloyd Irish, then a great cross from Western was hit first time by Jesse Howe just wide.
With two minutes to go Tivvy sub Jimmy Hinds was through on goal but shot straight at Irish.
After the final whistle Wright saw red as he confronted the referee.
Replay is at Bideford on Tuesday (7.45pm).
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