OXFORD United have admitted an FA charge of failing to control players and officials at the final match of the season against Northwich Victoria at the Kassam Stadium on April 26.

The charge relates to the melee on the pitch towards the end of the second half of the Blue Square Premier game which followed a pitch invasion by spectators.

Northwich, too, have been charged, as has Vics manager Andy Preece in a separate individual charge.

The Football Association say they are still considering another charge against Oxford of failing to control spectators at the match.

United have pleaded guilty to the charge relating to players and officials – the exact wording is “failing to ensure that players and/or officials conduct themselves in an orderly fashion” – but they have asked for a personal hearing.

This is to give their side of the story in person, as they hope to use mitigation in a bid to lessen any possible punishment.

No date has yet been set for the personal hearing, when it seems likely that one or both of secretary and general manager Mick Brown, and chairman Kelvin Thomas, will attend.

Tempers erupted between the players and officials after around 60 fans had run onto the pitch to celebrate James Constable's equaliser.

Preece said he was concerned for his players’ safety, and wanted his team to leave the pitch and return to the dressing room.

United’s players wanted the match to continue. They desperately needed to win it to keep alive their chance of reaching the play-offs.

In the end, the pitch invasion greatly unsettled the U’s and they conceded a second goal in the 90th minute to lose 2-1.

But they would not have reached the play-offs anyway because Torquay beat Burton.

Both Oxford, and Northwich, will have to explain why managers and other members of the coaching staff, and substitutes went onto the pitch when the game was still technically going on, because they are not permitted to do so.

There was also a lot of pushing and jostling between arguing players which followed.

The FA have already studied pictures of the fracas.

Said Brown: “We were asked for the video after the game, which is standard when incidents have occ-ured during the match.

“I'm sure it will have been studied. But that happens a number of times a season.”