Match abandoned after keeper is left unconscious by a knee to the face (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Clacton: Match abandoned after keeper is left unconscious by a knee to the face

11:00am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

A SUNDAY league football match had to be abandoned after one of the goalkeepers suffered serious injuries.

Ex-goalie Mark Jones, 43, is now manager of St Osyth FC Sunday Side.

He was forced to step between the posts again at the weekend when his goalkeeper failed to turn up for the game.

But the comeback turned into a disaster when Mark took a knee to the face in the second half, causing the game to be abandoned.

He said: “I wasn’t too eager to play in the first place, but my goalie let me down and no one else would volunteer.

“We were 3-1 down in the second half but we were playing quite well, then next thing I know I’m waking up in a pool of blood in the penalty area.

“I can’t remember anything about the actual incident, but people tell me I slid out to meet the striker, clipped the ball away but took his knee in the face on the follow through.”

Mark suffered a broken nose, a fat lip, cuts to his face and mouth and had two of his teeth pushed inwards.

He was unconscious in the penalty area for more than five minutes before coming round.

The battered and bruised player/manager was rushed to hospital in Colchester, before being transferred to Ipswich. He is now recovering at home.

Mark added: “From now on I’ll stick to managing, and I’ll be back on the touchline this week!"