Kettering Town have reacted furiously after their supporters were accused of racially abusing Lincoln City players and staff during a bad-tempered FA Cup tie on Saturday.

Lincoln complained to the FA yesterday that their players and assistant manager were targeted during the 1-1 draw at Rockingham Road, but Kettering have accused Peter Jackson, the Lincoln manager, of making up the claims. Kettering, who play in the Blue Square Premier, are owned by Imraan Ladak, a Kenyan businessman, and have six black players in their squad.

“Peter Jackson’s illegitimate claims have managed to create headlines that have tarnished our club’s good name,” Ladak said. “At this moment, there is no evidence that a single supporter racially abused the Lincoln bench.”

According to Jackson, Iffy Onuora, his assistant, and Aaron Brown and Frank Sinclair, the substitutes, were abused during the second half. The Lincoln manager complained to Simon Hooper, the referee, after the final whistle and his allegations were included in the official’s match report to the FA.

“I had a fellow ten yards behind me calling my players monkeys and making monkey gestures at them,” Jackson said. “I tell the stewards but what happens? He leaves the stadium and they haven’t even got his name and address. So much for kicking racism out of football.”

The first-round tie will be replayed next Tuesday and Ladak has urged Jackson to consider his position. Ladak said. “If his allegations prove to be unfounded, I hope he apologises in the public domain, with the same enthusiasm as he made the allegations.”

AFC Wimbledon’s first appearance in the FA Cup proper ended in a 4-1 defeat by Wycombe Wanderers at Kingsmeadow last night. Matt Harrold scored a hat-trick as the Coca-Cola League Two side crushed their Blue Square South opponents in the first-round tie.