Three-year match ban after Nikki cuddles goalie

Magistrates barred Nikki Lomas from all games until 2013 for his part in a pitch invasion sparked by defender Exodus Geohaghon’s late strike at Accrington Stanley.

Dad-of-two Nikki (28) admitted assaulting goalie Ian Dunbavin during the dramatic League Two game last month.

He said: “It was a minor offence but I did wrong and it was stupid, I admit that. We’d had a couple of beers and it was just sheer excitement.

“Even when the officer spoke to me at the side of the pitch I said I knew I’d done wrong and would take whatever punishment it was.

“I stuck to my bail conditions and went to court when they told me to and pleaded guilty straight away.”

Shop fitter Nikki went to Lancashire with pals for the 3-2 thriller—in which Rotherham United ended Stanley’s unbeaten home record with two goals in the last ten minutes.

The late equaliser and winner—both scored in front of the travelling faithful—prompted wild celebrations and Nikki was among many fans who spilled out onto the pitch.

His banning order means that he will miss out on taking children Tommy (6) and Tyler (4) to games.

He said: “I’ve been watching Rotherham for five or six years, maybe a bit longer, and I mostly go with my kids.

“I didn’t used to be able to get to away games because of my job, but went to this one and now I wish I hadn’t.

“Weekends are when I see my kids and now football’s something we won’t be able to do together for a while.

“So it’s hurt my family as well as myself, but those are the consequences. Now I’m looking forward to being able to take the children again and stick to being sensible.”

Stanley ground safety manager Mick Schultz denied there were any problems with crowd control at Crown Ground.

He added: “It’s an arrestable offence to go on the field of play and touching the player is classed as an assault.

“We’ve got to protect the playing staff and officials and try to be proactive. We have stewards pitch-side to give them some protection.”

Nikki was also ordered to pay £250, including £100 costs, by Hyndburn magistrates.

The ban covers all football grounds in England and Wales.

An Accrington Stanley club spokesman said: “We cannot tolerate pitch encroachments.

“It is an arrestable offence to go on the field of play and touching a player is classed as an assault.”

In another case,a Rotherham supporter has admitted affray after a confrontation with opposition fans following the play-off defeat last season.

John Sheridan (20) from Doncaster, will be sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court, London, on November 30.

Nine other fans—aged between 19 and 31—will stand trial next summer over the May 30 incident at Kings Cross tube station.

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