At first Kikuchi's forces on the Imperial side were superior because the Ashikaga forces were greatly outnumbered and the military equipment obtained by Sadatsune SHONI was destroyed by fire during the attack of Dazaifu; the situation, however, was reversed due to betrayal by many warriors in Kikuchi's forces: leading Kikuchi's forces to collapse and flee, and in the meantime, Korenao ASO died in battle.
兵力の差は歴然で、少弐貞経が足利軍のために調達した装備は菊池軍の大宰府攻撃の際に焼失していたため、当初は宮方の菊池軍が優勢であったが、菊池軍に大量の裏切りが出たため戦況は逆転し、菊池軍は総崩れで敗走し、阿蘇惟直は戦死する。