Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 14 October 2023

Royal Wootton Bassett Town's Hellenic League Premier Division encounter with Longlevens was abandoned after 'keeper Harry Pickering suffered a serious injury just over half an hour into the match.

Pickering suffered a dislocated arm after making a fantastic point blank save and, given the severity of the pain he was in and length of time that it took for an ambulance to arrive, there was no option but to call a premature end to the fixture.

In an otherwise tight game, Bassett trailed 1-0 at the time of the injury as the visitors seized on a under hit back pass from Jowan Partridge, which got held up by the longer than usual grass on the Sustain Stadium pitch, just after the game's quarter hour mark.

Bassett then seemed set to go 2-0 down, but Pickering put his body on the line to prevent that. In the process, however, he suffered his devastating injury.

After having to spend an hour and a half stricken on the pitch - though under the excellent care of club sports therapist Kara Gregory - Pickering was eventually taken to hospital, where he was evaluated on Saturday evening.

Doctors were able to set his arm back in the correct place meaning surgery was not required and he was able to return home. However it will still likely be several months before he can return to football.

All at the club wish Harry the speediest recovery possible.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 15th October 2023 at 09:32