Ngày Mai: HYDE UNITED'S plastic pitch was set on FIRE tonight after a flare was thrown from the home end.

The non-league side were all set to take on League One outfit MK Dons in the FA Cup when, before the game, the pyrotechnic was launched onto the artificial surface.

Hyde's game against MK Dons tonight was delayed after the pitch was set alight

Huge holes were left in the artificial playing surface after a flare was extinguished out on it

It ended up delaying kick-off for the first round tie by 15 minutes at Ewen Fields, and it ended with huge holes being left in the pitch.

Hyde, who are set to pocket around £150,000 from the game, could well end up shelling out some of that in fines for the actions of the fan or fans.

That's not to mention the cost of replacing the pitch.

It was undoubtedly Hyde's biggest game for 17 years. Back in 1994 they played in the first round of the famous old competition when they were beaten 3-1 at home to Darlington.

The home crowd were understandably excited, but bringing flares into the crowd could well see further action taken from the FA

There was sufficient damage caused to the playing surface at Ewen Fields tonight

And after the pitch-melting drama tonight, the evening got even worse for Darren Kelly's non-leaguers as they were thumped 4-0 by MK Dons.

Once the action got under way the League One outfit showed their class as Aidan Nesbitt opened up with a fine curling strike in the 14th minute.

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The visitors pushed for a second before the break and duly got it when Chuks Aneke sent an inch-perfect free-kick into the top corner.

The second half followed much the same suit for the Northern Premier League Division One North side, playing in the eighth tier of football, featuring at this stage for the first time in 23 years.