VIOLENT clashes between rival supporters marred the much anticipated derby between Swindon Town and Oxford United today.

Fans charged at each other across the open grass outside the County Ground before the game with police seemingly unable to keep the two sides apart. 

Flares were launched through the air and bottles thrown with some striking police officers’ helmets as they fought to restore order. 

The kick off time had been brought forward to midday from the usual 4pm Sunday afternoon start in a bid to minimise the potential for trouble.

Wiltshire Police called in some 250 officers from five forces in a bid to avoid the scenes of violence that have been an unwelcome feature of previous games between the two sides.

Hundreds of Oxford fans set up camp in the Savoy pub at the top of Regent Street shortly after 10am. 

A loose line of police kept watch but with the exception of a verbal confrontation with some passing Swindon supporters, the mood was largely peaceful. 

With so many away fans gathered at the top end of the town, the police faced a challenging task to shepherd such a large group safely towards the County Ground. 

Despite officers’ attempts to keep the hundreds of fans enclosed within a moving cordon, it appeared they were dramatically under-resourced. 

Oxford supporters broke free of the police lines and ran into oncoming traffic on Princes Street as officers with batons drawn joined others on horseback struggling to keep control. 

After a pause to allow more police reinforcements to arrive, the escort continued to the Magic Roundabout without incident. 

But as the Oxford supporters crossed the open ground, the Swindon fans amassed in the County Ground car park were waiting. 

The two groups ran towards each other, red and yellow flares soared through the air and officers could once again be seen fighting back in an effort to maintain any sense of order. 

Despite their best efforts, the officers were outnumbered and on the back foot throughout.

With the crowd spread out, and with large gaps left between each officer lining the edge of the road behind the Don Rogers stand, the Oxford contingent were able to break through the lines with ease and surge towards the waiting Swindon fans. 

The two groups clashed in the open in a violent melee the like of which has not been seen at the County Ground for some time. 

Police officers cried out for medics as they pulled one injured fan from the crowd and shielded him from the clashes around them as he lay on the floor.

He appeared to have been struck on the head.

There were multiple arrests and it took assistance from Swindon Town stewards and staff to help move the crowds apart. 

The same open grass area has been a point of concern during previous matches - officers struggle to seal it off with sufficient numbers to prevent fans coming together. 

The police had deployed their purpose-built mobile steel wall at the other end of the County Ground car park which would have allowed for a physical barrier between the supporters, yet a decision was taken not to escort the Oxford fans in that direction. 

Following the match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors, Oxford supporters were kept behind in the stand while the home crowd left the area. 

While the pre-match policing operation had appeared to be on the back foot from the outset, the post-match approach could not have been more different. 

From the moment the Oxford supporters were released from the stand, they were surrounded by a tight net of police in helmets and protective kit. 

Three vans and a row of police horses equipped with shields led the travelling block as it moved along County Road, past Transfer Bridges and along Station Road. 

Efforts by small groups of Swindon fans to goad the travelling support from side streets proved unsuccessful as serials of public order officers moved quickly to cut them off. 

Superintendent Adrian Burt, of Wiltshire Police, said: “Despite the actions of a small minority of attendees at the Swindon v Oxford match who were intent on causing trouble, the game passed without any major incident. 

“Five arrests were made, three of which related to pitch invasions, one on suspicion of disorder and the fifth related to the assault of a police officer. 

“Fortunately the police officer was not seriously injured. The five arrested men remain in custody at Gablecross Police Station.

“Police were faced with some challenges in escorting a considerable number of Oxford fans into the ground, which necessitated the need to close roads for a short time to ensure safety for all. 

“Any issues presented were quickly contained. We recognise that any issues were not caused by the loyal football supporters but by those who wished to disrupt the game and the enjoyment of fans. 

“After the match a group of approximately 800 Oxford fans were escorted from the ground peacefully and dispersed without any issue, with any impact on the local community kept to a minimum.”

A Swindon Town FC spokesman said: “We want to echo the comments made by Adrian Burt and add that as a club, we thought the operation ran smoothly with very few arrests.

“We were very happy with our working relationship with Wiltshire Police, who we worked with closely in the run up to and during the game.”