Angry Retford United boss Peter Duffield defended his players following the mass brawl at the end of Boston United's 2-1 triumph at Cannon Park on Tuesday.

Both sets of players and coaching staff were involved in a heated confrontation as Boston's players celebrated their victory, which moved them to within a point of UniBond League Premier Division leaders Bradford Park Avenue, and put a major dent in the Badgers' title ambitions.

The pair could potentially meet twice more this season.

Both are in the semi-finals of the UniBond League Challenge Cup on Saturday.

The Pilgrims and the Badgers could also meet in the UniBond League Premier Division play-offs.

"Their players were perfectly entitled to celebrate their win, but they encroached into our coaching area kissing their badges and shouting – you just don't do that," said Duffield.

"One or two of our lads were understandably angry about that.

"Earlier this season we earned a 1-0 win at Bradford Park Avenue and I was told my lads were coming into the dressing room a bit full of it.

"When I was told, I went straight into their changing room and apologised because I understand if you win you can't get in people's faces like that."

However, Pilgrims joint-boss Rob Scott insisted his players' celebrations merely showed how much victory meant to them.

"I think they (Retford) would have been the same if it had been them," said Scott.

"The facts are that it was a top-of-the-table clash and it meant a lot to the players.

"I don't know what happened. We were trying to get our players to go down to our fans and I would imagine that some of their players and staff took exception to our celebrations.

"But I seem to remember a similar sort of thing happening at our ground earlier in the season (when Retford won 1-0)."

Read the full story in today's Lincolnshire Echo.

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