A football team refused to play the second half of their game on Saturday, citing the 'ridiculous' behaviour of the opposition.

Working Wonders – a Darton-based side set up to raise money for Cancer Research – were 3-0 down at the break against SWD who are based at the Sheffield Works Department. But the match in the South Yorkshire Amateur League was called off after the home side said they were not coming out for the second half.

Wonders manager Stefan Chapman said: "One of our players was slapped in the face, another got studded.  The other team were hurling abuse at us and putting in some very dangerous tackles. It wasn't a football game. They were just being ridiculous.

"They didn't get any red cards but we just didn't feel it was safe to play on.  Our players had work on the Monday and I thought there might be broken legs if we played the whole game.

"I asked the lads at half-time if they wanted to carry on and they didn't. We set this team up to raise money for Cancer Research and have a bit of fun playing football, not to get involved with games like that. It's not a decision that many clubs would make but it was right for us."

Chapman has sent a report in to the league. He said: "We will wait to say what they decide to do.  They could award the points to one of the teams or get us to play it again."

A spokesman for the County FA said: "Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA is aware of the abandonment of the game but is waiting until the referee's report has been received and then an investigation will follow."

Working Wonders, who are affiliated with the Legacy Church in Barnsley, were formed last year and have so far raised £4,800 while winning the league's Fair Play Award last season. The players have organised fund-raising events such as carboot sales, bagpacks, music concerts and a sky dive. Some of the team will stay in a 'haunted house' in Pontefract next month while there is a shark dive planned for February before their third annual charity match which they hope to stage at Oakwell for the first time in May.

Chapman said: "We set a target of £4,000 for this season and we have already raised £2,800 so it is looking like we will get more like £5,000 which is fantastic.  We have 60 members now and we have had to set up a second team in the Yorkshire Christian League.

"We are looking to make the club bigger and bigger and venture into other sports like pool, darts and maybe rugby. A lot of our players and staff have lost family members to cancer so it is a cause that is very close to our hearts."