Bottles and other missiles were thrown in a series of disturbances involving scores of supporters in and around Newport Stadium, Spytty Park, where Cardiff City FC beat Newport County FC 1-0 in the friendly.

Officer reinforcements from Gwent and South Wales police forces and British Transport Police were called in to quell violence that flared during and after the game, resulting in seven arrests for public-order offences.

No one was thought to have been injured.

The seven who were arrested - from Cardiff, Rhondda and Newport - were being held in custody at Newport Central police station early this morning.

After the disturbances, a large contingent of Cardiff supporters were dispatched on trains bound for the capital, where they dispersed peacefully.

Sergeant Steve Dawkins, of British Transport Police, who escorted the Cardiff fans back from Newport, said, “It began during the match. There was a hard-core group of around 40 to 50 Cardiff City fans causing trouble. It was a bit hairy, bottles smashing at your feet. We did our best to contain them and keep them separated.”

Wallace Brown, director of Newport County FC, said last night, “This is obviously something that shouldn’t happen, but within the confines of the ground there did not appear to be any extensive problem.

“We had a crowd of 1,000 for the game and everyone enjoyed it.”

One fan was injured outside the Spytty Raod grond and there were seven arrests.

The incident comes just days before the publication of a criminal intelligence league table showing that City fans have one of the worst records for hooliganism in the UK.

A posting on an unofficial website - the Cardiff City Soul Crew - expresses pride that Cardiff fans may be heavily criticisied in the official report.

Earlier, approximately 50 rival supporters clashed in the Corporation Road area of Newport.

Only four Cardiff people had arrived by train to be in time to watch the friendly game.

One man was assaulted at the ground and was treated by St John ambulance.

He left the area and the group of about 50 turned up as the game was underway and tried to make their way to the ground.

A window at the Corporation public house was broken after rival supporters started fighting outside, the match, which ended with Cardiff winning 1-0 against non-league Newport.

South Wales Police and Gwent Police - which heavily policed the game - quickly restored order and later said there had been nothing to suggest trouble before the match.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Toms from South Wales Police condemned the "neanderthal" behaviour of so-called City fans.

"There are people that attach themselves to the club to cause trouble," he said.

"These people are not supporters, they are using soccer as a vehicle for violence."

Newport councillor John Guy, who attended the match, said he saw City fans "running amok" in the street.

"I was surprised by their age, they were in their 30s and 40s," said Coun Guy, a retired police officer.

"When I pulled up, on of them ran across and banged the top of my car. The fans seemed intent on causing problems."

A spokesman for the Corporation pub - which had a window smashed in the incident - said the police had acted quickly and handled the situation very well.

During the 1980s, there was tension between the two sets of supporters and it is suspected that the clashes were a settling of old scores.

Cardiff City hooligans clashed with Millwall fans on the opening day of the 1999-2000 season last August.

There were also disturbances at the end of the season in a match between Cardiff and Stoke City.