STOKE fan Richard Dono has esacaped a football banning order - because he was so excited about Liam Lawrence scoring a goal.

Dono ran along the track between the Britannia Stadium pitch and the Boothen End after Lawrence scored the winner against Blackburn Rovers.

The 29-year-old was detained by a club steward, arrested and charged with going on to an area adjacent to a football pitch.

Zoe Speake, prosecuting, at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court yesterday, said "After getting on to the track around the playing area and jumping up and down along with a small number of others, Dono ran near to the corner flag where Liam Lawrence and other Stoke players were celebrating him scoring a goal."

The Football (Offences) Act 1991 states spectators fall foul of the law if they enter a "playing area or any area adjacent to the playing area" without permission at a match.

The maximum fine is £1,000 and judges also have the power to impose a banning order under the Public Order Act 1986.

But Dono who was fined £65 with £75 costs after pleading guilty, escaped a three-year banning order after magistrates accepted Dono was simply overcome with joy.

Simon Dykes, defending, said: "My client has been a passionate Stoke City supporter since the age of eight. He got caught up in the moment.

"He never displayed any emotion other than pure delight when the goal was scored, which would probably keep Stoke in the Premier League. It was in sheer joy that he did it.

"I ask the court not to make a football banning order."

The court heard Dono had already served a banning order for a football-related affray after trouble between Stoke and Cardiff fans in 2000.

Chairman of the bench, Jacqueline Reynolds, told Dono: "If you ever do anything like this again there will be a banning order."

Referring to the case, season ticket holder Dono, of Lewis Street, Stoke, said afterwards: "I am over the moon. It was a very good result."

Stoke City were unavailable for comment.