An Ipswich non-league player has been banned by Suffolk’s football authority for five years after assaulting an opponent.

Rory Orris, who played for Suffolk Punch FC, has also been fined £150 by Suffolk FA for the part he played in a “bundle” at an amateur match between his team and Taverners Reserves. Orris was one of a number of players sent off just 35 minutes into the Ipswich Sunday Morning Football League Reserves Minor Cup semi-final on April 6.

He was subsequently charged with violent conduct by Suffolk FA which launched an investigation into the fixture.

Orris pleaded guilty at the Suffolk FA’s disciplinary commission to assaulting the other player.

The fateful match had to be abandoned by the referee when the fracas broke out. Suffolk Punch FC have also been fined £150 and given a serious warning as to future conduct for failing to ensure players, officials or spectators conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.

It is understood that the altercation at the match started when a player pulled an opponent, prompting a violent reaction.

In a match report on Taverners’ website the incident was referred to as a “bundle”, though this was subsequently removed.

Orris had already automatically been fined £35 and banned for four matches by the Suffolk FA before his hearing. Suffolk Punch FC also fined their player £100. Now he faces the prospect of not playing for his team again until 2019.

Last night the secretary of Suffolk Punch FC said they would appeal the decision which he said was “too harsh”.

Stephen Preston said the club was expecting a one-year or possibly two-year ban, rather than the five years imposed.

He said he felt the panel could have been persuaded to show leniency if he had been allowed to present mitigating evidence about what took place, however Orris had to make his case on his own.

Suffolk FA football services manager Andy Gould said: “This outcome brings to a conclusion the investigation of a very serious incident which occurred during a match in which the referee had no alternative but to abandon the game.

“As guardians of grassroots football in the county it is important that we respond promptly and positively to such incidents, which will not be tolerated and have no place in the game.”

The Taverners Reserves face Briarbank Rovers in the cup final on May 11.