Orange Square FC have approached the Millennium 2000 Football League about claiming compensation from rivals The Star over a punctured ball.

The Star entertained Orange Square last weekend and the visitors ended up providing the match ball as the home side's offerings were deemed unsuitable.

Orange Square won the match 7-0 but tempers boiled over when the ball was punctured on a bramble bush behind one of the goals.

Square's striker Tim Jordan smashed the ball into the bush when his effort on goal flew horribly wide but afterwards the home side refused to refund the cost of a new ball.

Traditionally the match ball is the home side's responsibility and Patrick Hobden, Square's secretary, is keen get the club's new Mitre ball replaced.

"It cost the club £35," he said. "It is one of those smart new ones, a Nationwide Division issue ball. We are pretty gutted about it.

"By the letter of the law the side who are at home should provide the ball. I asked the league what we could do about it and they said: 'very little'. I guess we will have to write it off.

"When we play The Star at home we will make sure we use one of their balls and we shall try to ruin it."

Chris Beard, spokesman for the Crawley-based league, said: "We'll let the clubs sort it out. There is no ruling for this type of incident. I just hope the two teams resolve it amicably."

Last night however The Star were repentant. Chairman Andrew Fielder, who runs the pub the team are named after, said: "No-one has mentioned this to me. If they come down to the pub we will give them a new ball and a beer."

Hampden Arms lost 3-0 to Associates FC in the Lewes and District League last week and if the home side thought that would be the last they saw of Associates for a few months, then they were sorely mistaken.

The two sides are scheduled to meet again in the league this weekend.