A WOMAN football supporter was assaulted by visiting fans at Worcester City's home match with Northwich Victoria on Saturday.

Police were called in after Barbara Hicks, aged 39, was pushed in the chest and ousted from her usual place by a rowdy group of Northwich fans.

The trouble started half an hour before the match, when some of the visitors marched around the ground singing and banging a drum.

"My husband and I had four children with us and we had put up our Worcester City flags in the shed, where we usually stand," said Mrs Hicks, who has supported City for several years.

"I was sitting on the terrace drinking coffee and reading the programme, when about six Northwich fans, who were clearly drunk, decided to put their flags on top of ours."

Mrs Hicks said she was punched and jostled, her coffee was knocked into the air, her husband got pinned against a wall and their flags and bags were kicked around as they tried to retrieve them.

"One of the children, a 10-year-old, ran off crying and we had to get out for our own safety. It was very distressing," she said.

Worcester City chairman Dave Boddy said the trouble was caused by a small minority of drink-fuelled Northwich supporters.

"We refused entry to four who were in an unfit state to come into the ground," he said. They adopted an aggressive and unpleasant attitude and we called the police.

"Unfortunately, one of our loyal supporters got caught up in the trouble,"

He did not remember ever having had police in the ground in such a situation before.

"We hadn't heard of any trouble with Northwich Victoria supporters before, otherwise we would have segregated them," he said.

"I think because they are at the top of the league, they have picked up a small minority who are looking to cause trouble."

A police spokesman said officers, including dog handlers, were able to contain the situation and there were no arrests.