A 22-year-old man who stabbed a teenage goalkeeper in the face at a five-a-side football match has been jailed for four years.

James Freyone, of Exeter Road, Croydon, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court last Friday for the attack on Andrew Taylor at the Powerleague football centre in Hannibal Way, Wallington, on December 29 last year.

Mr Taylor, who was 17 at the time of the attack, needed 24 stitches to several deep cuts to his face. He is scarred for life.

The court heard that trouble erupted during a game between rival teams the Mooties Mr Taylor's side and Barca.

During the second half an argument developed between Mr Taylor, who was in goal, and one of the Barca forwards.

An exchange of words followed between Mr Taylor's dad, Paul, and three men one of whom was Freyone watching the match. The two groups converged and a fight broke out.

Mr Taylor went to his dad's aid and pushed Freyone out of the way and began to wrestle with him.

But after breaking free, Freyone came at the goalkeeper and made punching movements towards his face.

Freyone was convicted of one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a week-long trial.

He had denied the charge and claimed he had not been carrying a knife.

Paul Phillips, defending, told the court: "It is not the normal practice for Mr Freyone to carry a weapon."

He said Freyone realised a jail term was inevitable and two references from prison wardens showed he had been making an effort to reform while on remand.

Mr Phillips said Freyone was young, hard-working and even though he left school at 16, had completed a course in engineering and worked at every possible opportunity.

He also said Freyone's disabled father would not be able to visit him in jail because of a lack of disabled facilities.

Sentencing Freyone to four years, Judge Edward Southwell said: "This court takes seriously the use of knives and takes a serious view of violence at football matches even if it was a five-a-side match."

Freyone will not be eligible for parole until he has served three years of his sentence.