A MASS brawl towards the end of a match between CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and CPD Bangor 1876 on Saturday (October 22) led to five red cards and a Football Association of Wales (FAW) investigation.

Bangor, who won the match between two “phoenix clubs” 2-1, had a late corner kick at Rhyl’s Belle Vue ground when tempers suddenly boiled over.

Rhyl, who lost a league match for the first time since reforming, had already had a player and their manager, Gareth Thomas, sent off earlier in the game.

A Rhyl club statement said: “Following one of the largest-attended games across the FAW yesterday (October 22), our community club is deeply upset and saddened at the on-field events at the end of the game against our friends from Bangor 1876.

“We would like to thank North Wales Police for supporting the game, both sets of supporters, and especially our club volunteers who give up their valuable time to make this and every home game possible.

“We apologise to everyone who experienced the incident and this matter is being dealt with internally as a matter of urgency.

“We await the referee’s report, and we will be making no further comment at this time.”

Rhyl manager Thomas added: "The scenes that have followed at the end are not good enough.

"It's not what we've spent 20 months building-up this club to be and it's an absolute disgrace. Players can look at it, they've got to take responsibility.

“Not only have they let the club down, they've let hard-working volunteers down here, and that was not good enough and it's not something that will be carrying on at this club."

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As for the game itself, on 19 minutes, a rare forward move by the Lilywhites saw Jonny Taylor through on goal, but as he entered the box, Bangor defender Tom Clarke stuck out a leg and brought Taylor down.

Referee Gareth Webb whistled, Clarke was booked, and the penalty was awarded.

Alex Jones stepped up and saw his penalty saved by keeper Huw Shaw, but Jones was quick to react and fired 1879 into the lead 1-0.

Before the crowd had ended their celebrations, it was all square, as a defensive error saw Rhyl keeper Ryan Roberts caught in no man’s land, and Liam Morris was able to round him and fire the ball in.

The game then rarely got the opportunity to get going, with numerous injuries to both sides including Bangor keeper Huw Shaw, who was stretchered off on 32 minutes.

Jordan Worthington would be the next to leave the field, as earlier in the game, he had been the victim of a late tackle and was left writhing on the floor, and was unable to shake off the injury.

The second half, carrying on from the first 45 minutes, proved a tough game to watch marred with constant stoppages in play.

As the game started to build in terms of pressure, referee Webb showed his first red card to Rhyl manager, Gareth Thomas, after the intervention of the assistant referee.

On 78 minutes, the visitors would take the lead, as a floated ball into the box saw Corrig McGonigle send a looping header over Ryan Roberts into the far corner of the net.

With six minutes to go, Rhyl were reduced to ten men when Miles Todd was shown the second red card of the game for kicking Morris after miscuing a clearance.

And late into the game, 1879 were awarded a corner, which led to ugly scenes and saw an additional five red cards (three for Rhyl, two for Bangor).

It ended Rhyl’s unbeaten league run since the club’s inception, while manager Thomas also condemned the scenes.

Both the FAW and Bangor 1876 declined to comment.