Tiernan Lynch feared for safety of his own son as CSKA Sofia Ultras cause trouble at Brandywell

CSKA Sofia supporters broke through a safety barrier and rushed towards Derry fans in the Southend Park stand after Ellis Chapman scored to level the tie at 3-3 two minutes into the second half of the return leg on Foyleside.

The visiting fans ripped up seats and threw missiles, forcing hundreds of Derry supporters including women and children to jump over the perimeter fence and onto the pitch for their own safety.

There was a 15-minute delay as stewards, club officials and players attempted to diffuse the situation. Eventually, the game got the green light to resume and the Bulgarians progressed to the second round with a 5-3 aggregate scoreline.

Earlier, the PSNI escorted the CSKA fans from the city centre through Bishop Street, past Derry City fans gathered outside in nearby bars and towards the stadium resulting in several flashpoints.

Those unsavoury scenes spilled over during the game once Derry took the lead. Eventually, the PSNI entered the stadium - for the first time since the Brandywell club's entry into the League of Ireland in 1985 - dressed in riot gear and positioned themselves behind the CSKA fans in the corner of the Southend Park stand.

Derry boss Lynch admitted the scenes threatened to become 'extremely nasty' until officials and stewards intervened. And the Belfast man could understand the concern of some of the parents in the crowd.

"I thought the fans were outstanding and it was an unbelievable occasion," began Lynch. "They were rammed in here and then you seen kids running up the side [when trouble broke out]. "My own wee man was in the crowd today and I knew how it felt. I wasn't sure where he was. Like one of the fans, you were worried about the safety of your own kids.

"I wasn't sure where he was sitting. I saw someone falling over trying to get out of the way and bottles being thrown. It looked like it was going to get extremely nasty and great credit to the stewards for I thought they handled it brilliantly. It's not easy for the players to watch. They're very much concentrated on what they need to do and their gameplan. To have to go inside and worry about what's going on inside isn't pleasant."

Of course the delay detrimentally impacted Derry, who were gaining momentum in the tie and Lynch reckoned it gave the Bulgarians 'a lifeline'.

"It had a huge impact on the game. I'm not making any excuses in any way shape or form. Here was a team that has played no competitive games yet. We knew coming into the game 45 minutes, 60 minutes - a bit like the away game - and you could actually see after we scored the momentum started to really swing in our way. That 14 minute break have them a lifeline. It gave them a chance to regroup again, get organised again.

"I still think we had enough opportunities after that, The players have to take great credit for that. They're a top side. The big part is probably the goals we conceded. That was hugely disappointing."