A soccer cup match ended in violence after a linesman ruled an equaliser offside, a court heard.

Tony Eke was acting as linesman for the game as well as being manager of the team which eventually won the cup clash.

He was allegedly pushed, punched and kicked as he left the pitch after the final whistle.

Mr Eke suffered a fractured thumb and cuts and grazes to the top of his head during the alleged attack.

The incident happened after Old Varndeanians took the lead against Handcross in the quarter final of the Mid Sussex League's Montgomery Cup on St Valentine's Day last year.

Anne Toynbee, prosecuting, said Keith Boniface was playing at No.4 for Handcross but was substituted after he suffered a hamstring injury.

Miss Toynbee said: "About two minutes before the end of the game Old Varndeanians scored, making it 1-0.

"Within a minute Handcross appeared to equalise but Mr Eke ruled one of the Handcross team offside and the goal was disallowed.

"One of the defendant's team mates remonstrated with the linesman and accused him of cheating.

"He pushed the referee and also Mr Eke, who was knocked to the ground. That player was sent off.

"The final whistle was blown and at that point the defendant approached Mr Eke and accused him of being a f******* cheat.

"He pushed Mr Eke in the chest and then punched him in the face, again knocking him to the ground."

Miss Toynbee said Boniface ran off as a melee developed between players from both sides.

She said Boniface then returned and aimed another kick at Mr Eke's back.

Match referee David Ellmer told Hove Crown Court yesterday that Boniface allegedly kicked the linesman while he was on the ground.

He said: "He clearly kicked him twice on the top of his head with a football boot-clad foot.

"He swung and connected with two vicious kicks which were firm and aggressive and delivered with considerable force.

"A melee then developed between 15 or 20 players from both sides."

Mrs Theresa Ellmer, who was assessing her husband's performance for the Sussex County Football Association, called the police.

She said: "The incident followed an attack on goal which was a textbook offside. It was the only offside of the match.

"The game restarted with an indirect free kick so it was clear the goal had been disallowed.

"The keeper took the kick and my husband blew for full time and pointed to the changing rooms.

"The player substituted earlier took off towards the officials and was shouting you f******* cheat. He was absolutely furious and beside himself."

Miss Toynbee had earlier told the jury Boniface had claimed he had spoken to the linesman but only to ask him who had been offside.

He later told police the linesman had raised his flag and struck him on the hand with it.

In a statement read to the court he said: "He smirked at me and I said he was a cheating bastard and the next thing I knew was he was on the ground. I realised then he was play acting and trying to get me into trouble with the referee.

"That is why I was stamping on the ground and shouting at him get up you cheating bastard'.

"The other team's No.9 came in then and punched me. I knew it was him because I had been marking him all the game.

"Then four or five of the other team were around me hitting me."

Boniface, of Brighton Road, Handcross, denies causing Mr Eke actual bodily harm on February 14, last year.

The trial continues.