Kingstonian manager Alan Dowson insists replaying Saturday’s controversial Ryman League Premier Division play-off final defeat is the only solution to restore football’s reputation.

A violent pitch invasion saw Ks skipper Francis Duku attacked by a rival fan who ran on the pitch during his side’s 2-0 play-off final defeat at Boreham Wood, following a second-half goalmouth melee with the scores locked at 0-0.

The club’s joint-chairmen Malcolm Winwright and Mark Anderson lodged a complaint with the Football Association on Monday claiming the incident had ’seriously affected the ongoing performance of the team’.

The English game’s governing body are investigating events, but have no set procedure for an appeal against a result in the hope of overturning, rescinding or replaying the match - leaving Kingstonian’s fate to be decided in an FA committee room.

Ks’ case is one of three currently being looked at by officials at Soho Square after a weekend of football violence scarred the aftermath of matches involving Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday, York City and Luton Town.

But Dowson says the experience has sullied the club’s whole season and the only satisfactory outcome in this instance will be to replay the match.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in all my life. It is has spoilt the whole season and I feel very sorry for the supporters,” he said.

“If I hadn’t been so shocked at what happened I would have taken the players off the pitch.

“Something has to be done. The game was 0-0 at the time and the incident turned the game. I think there would have been a riot if we’d won the game. You can’t play in an atmosphere like that.

“I love the game, but things like this make you think. There is no place for that it football. It was sickening. A replay is the only sensible solution.”

Hertfordshire Police are yet to take any further action, but confirmed a man was taken to one side by officers on duty at the game and subsquently ejected from the ground - although no arrest was made.

The referee’s match report and evidence from both clubs will be examined by the FA before any decision on disciplinary action - which could see charges brought against Boreham Wood if the FA feel there is a case to answer - is taken.

“There is no set procedure with regards to incidents of this nature. It will take as long as it takes, but we hope the process will be completed in days rather than weeks,” added a Soho Square spokesman.