A REFEREE'S assessor will be checking to see is he should report Hinckley defender Andy Penny after he was involved in a fracas with two Chippenham Town stewards on Saturday.

And Chippenham secretary Chris Blake has said the club is ready to mount a vehement defence against rumoured allegations of racist chanting against Bluebirds supporters.

Chippenham's vital game against Hinckley ended in controversy after referee Richard Greenwood, who was in charge of only his second Dr Martens Premier Division game, sent off Penny after he was involved in a row with Chippenham players in the last seconds of the Bluebirds' 2-1 win.

Penny was ordered off but as he neared the touchline by the tunnel he began berating some home fans who had been shouting at him.

Penny had angered fans earlier after a brutal challenge on young striker James Constable that left him needing dental treatment on Tuesday.

Blake said: "He was having a row with the assistant referee as well when our chief steward Paul Smith went over. He (Penny) went towards the guy giving him the most mouth and the stewards stepped in. He (Penny) flung out an arm as if to say get away and he hit Phil Anthony the steward.''

Blake said the referee's assessor, who witnessed the incident will be checking the rules to see if the player can be reported.

Blake said he was also aware that Hinckley officials may be claiming Penny was the victim of racist chanting.

He said: "We had Dennis Strudwick the league chairman at the game and I know he saw and heard everything so we are confident there was nothing to answer on that charge.''