SPORTSMEN from rival teams in West Oxfordshire went head to head in a charity football match on a flooded pitch to raise money for disabled people in the county.

Players from Minster Lovell Football Club and Witney Rugby Club organised the match on Monday to raise money for Special Effect, a charity that uses video games and technology to enhance disabled people’s quality of life.

Minster Lovell FC chairman Alex Coutts, who organised the event, said it was a great day and raised about £450 for the charity.

He said: “The rugby team beat us 4-3, with their chairman Simon Copperwheat scoring right in the last minute.

“The ground was very flooded and boggy. It was like playing on a swamp. If it had been dry we would have won 10-0.

“We’ve decided we want to do this annually now – we’ll be playing against the rugby team every year to raise money for Special Effect.”

Mr Coutts said he chose the Charlbury-based charity after hearing about it through a friend at the pub.

The winning team was presented with the Blue Boar Cup, sponsored by the Blue Boar pub, which is in Witney’s Market Square.