Fans involved in a fight during a football game between Southport and Blackpool could be banned from matches, police say.

The referee stopped the pre-season friendly to take players off during the disruption at Southport’s Pure Stadium on Saturday.

Merseyside Police said there was no further disorder when officers arrived and fans “left in an orderly manner”.

Officers said there had been no reports of any injuries.

Ch Insp Matthew Moscrop said: “Our message to the small minority of fans intent on carrying out disorder at any match is that such behaviour is unacceptable and will simply not be tolerated.”

He said they were working with Southport FC to identify offenders, adding they were considering banning orders for those involved.

Police urged anyone with information to contact them.

• Visiting fans got past stewards to confront home supporters
• Blackpool won friendly 2-0 after temporary suspension of play

Fighting fans led to the temporary suspension of Saturday’s so-called friendly between Southport and Blackpool. Recently-appointed manager Michael Appleton kicked-off pre-season with a 2-0 win for the Championship side at their non-league neighbours.

CJ Hamilton and Beryly Lubala scored both goals against the National League North side during a bright start to a match that had to be halted around the half-hour mark as fans clashed at Haig Avenue. Some visiting supporters broke through steward barriers to confront the home fans that were goading them, leading referee Ben Speedie to call the players off the pitch.

“It makes me very sad to have to make this announcement at a friendly but the referee has stopped the game for 10 minutes,” the stadium announcer told supporters. “We would like anyone that’s on the terraces to move up to past the halfway line and if anything happens like that again the referee has made it clear he will be abandoning this match, so behave yourselves.”

Play resumed after that break and fans were again warned about the potential for abandonment at half-time, when the Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘I Predict a Riot’ was on the playlist.

Appleton changed his entire line-up for the second half at Haig Avenue, where there was no further fan disorder – or goals – in front of a 1,451 crowd.

A good workout for a Southport side who have only had three training sessions ahead of the game.

Blackpool were the better side in the first period and deservedly went in to the break 2-0 up with goals from the impressive CJ Hamilton and Beryly Lubala.

Despite Blackpool’s dominance in the first period Southport hung on in there and as the half progressed started to play some neat football without any end product.

Blackpool made 11 changes at half time, including bringing on former Southport favourite Doug Tharme, and Southport 7 and the second half ended 0-0 with debutant Nyal Bell, signed just ahead of the game going close for the home side and the lively Tyler Walton looking to cause the visiting defence plenty of problems

Southport enjoyed some good possession in the second period and considering the short amount of preparation time ahead of the game will be satisfied with getting the 90 minutes behind them in front of a bumper crowd of 1451.