Colchester manager John Ward said he and Blues boss Paul Jewell agreed to abandon Town’s pre-season friendly at Colchester along with referee Darren Deadman after U’s midfielder Andy Bond suffered a serious facial injury in the game’s closing stages. Ward revealed Bond lost a tooth and was unconscious for 30 seconds before he was helped to an ambulance at the side of the pitch with blood streaming down his face.

The U's boss said: "It was a fantastic game and we've had a sad ending with a player getting quite seriously injured.

"He's had a little bit of concussion and has lost a tooth - he was out for about 30 seconds. He was totally disorientated - that's why the referee made the correct decision agreed by Paul Jewell and myself.

"Our sole concern is the health of the player. The fact that he walked off was a major bonus, given what we had feared."

Asked to comment on the booing by some Town supporters, Ward added: "You had better speak to them about that.

“The Colchester United fans had total respect for what went on. Other people have to be responsible for their own actions."

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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