Dartford joint-manager Jamie Coyle defended his right-hand man Adam Flanagan following Tuesday night’s touchline dust-up.

An altercation midway through the first half against Chelmsford led to Dartford’s joint-boss Flanagan and opposition number Rod Stringer being sent off by referee Dean Hulme.

Players and staff from both teams came together in an ugly skirmish after visiting striker Rhys Murphy was tripped up by Flanagan and sent flying into the home dugout.

Coyle insisted the trip was accidental.

He said: “It was a little bit unfortunate because the ball rolled into our technical area. Adam stopped the ball and their guy has gone to kick it as well. They have collided and he fell over into the dugout.

“It was unfortunate and it flared up a little bit but it was only handbags and nothing was said or done really. There was no malice in what Adam did, he was just literally trying to stop the ball and they collided.”

Chelmsford boss Stringer confronted Flanagan after the trip but made no apology for the way he reacted.

“It could have been a serious incident,” said Stringer. “I let him know

it was a silly thing to do and we locked heads together.

“If he doesn’t trip our player then I don’t get sent off but I am not going to accept having my player being tripped up like that.”

Read the match report from Dartford's 1-0 win over Chelmsford here