Sittingbourne have been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players during last month’s controversial game at Whyteleafe.

Leading 2-0, the Brickies were three minutes from victory when Joe Goldsmith went down with a head injury.

When play restarted, the home side failed to give the ball back and won a corner from which they scored to make it 2-1.

An equaliser arrived moments later, sparking a furious reaction from the visiting players and officials and a mass confrontation at the final whistle.

Last Friday, the FA issued the club with a charge of "failure to ensure its players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour."

Sittingbourne secretary John Pitts has written to the FA, denying the charge.

He said: "I’m surprised and disgusted that they’ve charged us.

"In my 10 years of being a non-league secretary, I’ve never seen anything like it."

Pitts fears the club could be hit with a hefty fine if the charge is upheld.

On November 1, the Brickies collected three red cards and eight yellows during their 3-0 defeat at Burgess Hill, landing them a £250 penalty.

Manager Joe Dowley (pictured) has warned his players about their future conduct but maintains they did nothing wrong in what were exceptional circumstances at Whyteleafe.

Sittingbourne host Hythe Town on Saturday.