TAKING THE PITCH
Watch as Gateshead vs Dunston football match descends into chaos when masked men in a HEARSE storm pitch
THIS is the moment a match between two non-league football teams is abandoned after a hearse drives onto the pitch.
Gateshead FC were playing at Dunston UTS FC in a friendly when the two vehicles entered the pitch and began churning up the turf.
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Footage from inside the ground shows two mask-clad men performing donuts and drifting across the pitch while a number of posters are thrown from the windows.
The driver of the hearse is then seen leaving the vehicle and getting into the a silver Subaru, before the pair drive off from the scene with the posters left strewn across the pitch.
The hearse was left in the middle of the pitch, with the referee having to abandon the match at half time with the score 1-1.
A Dunston UTC club statement said: "We are all deeply saddened at the events that took place last night. Thankfully nobody was physically hurt or injured.
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"The club would like to put on record that one individual named on the leaflets distributed during the pitch invasion, has had no connection with Dunston UTS FC, in any official capacity, for over two years.
"The other individual has no connection with our club whatsoever."
The statement added that the club has launched a probe into the incident.
In a brief tweet, National League Gateshead said: "Due to an incident on the pitch occurring shortly after half time, tonight's match has been abandoned by the referee."
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Northern Premier League East side Dunston added: "Tonight’s match has been abandoned due to an incident at half-time."
One fan in attendance described the stunt as a "terrifying experience", adding that there had been "plenty of children about" at the time.
Dunston hosted National League South club Dartford in a friendly last weekend.
Police are investigating the protest.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "
Shortly before 8.20pm today (Friday) it was reported that two cars drove onto the pitch during half-time of the Dunston UTC v Gateshead match at Dunston Football Club on Wellington Road.
Following this, both cars – a Subaru and a Hearse – have proceeded to drive around in circles and a group of males wearing balaclavas have then exited onto the pitch.
"They have then proceeded to throw a number of leaflets onto the pitch, before driving away from the area in the Subaru before police arrival. The Hearse was left abandoned on the pitch.
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"An investigation was immediately launched – and a number of enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the report, and locate those involved."
It is believed the men are known to each other, with a police statement adding that "anyone found to be involved will be dealt with robustly".