BANKS INJURY OVERSHADOWS TABLE TOP ENCOUNTER

Rugby Town captain Robbie Banks suffered a broken leg and after a lengthy delay the match at Royston was abandoned with 24 minutes remaining in the game.

By Craig Webb Tweet

The Southern League Board of Directors announced on 12/03/13 that the result will stand as 1-0 with the three points being awarded to Rugby Town.

Photo: Martin Pulley

The match unfortunately centered on Rugby skipper Robbie Banks' terrible injury in the second half which eventually led to the game being abandoned with the Royston players refusing to continue

Banks suffered the injury midway through the second half as he challenged for a loose ball and play was immediately stopped.

Rugby were denied the chance to go back to the top the table after the match was abandoned in controversial circumstances at Garden Walk after the horrific injury.

Rugby were leading at the time through David Kolodynski's spectacular overhead kick while Royston had been reduced to ten men during the first half for a rash tackle on Lewis McBride.

Initially there was a 30-minute delay as Robbie was not moved from the pitch awaiting an ambulance but eventually Robbie was stretchered off to warm applause from all fans as the ambulance was delayed.

Further delays ensued as it became unclear whether the game would continue with the Rugby players out on the pitch and ready to play and the Royston players back in the dressing room.

After extensive discussions between managers, players, match officials & the referee's assessor, it was decided that the game was to continue (now about 40 minutes after Banks' injury) but the Royston players refused to re-enter the field to finish the game and the game was abandoned.

The match itself was an entertaining affair with Rugby making a good start when Sam Youngs produced an off target header from a Lewis McBride freekick and David Kolodynski shooting straight at keeper Will Norris after a good knockdown from Ellis Myles.

Rugby were playing well but the home side had their own chances with Ryan Ingrey seeing his looping header go over the bar and Kaan Fehmi having his accurate shot go straight into Andy Stevens arms.

The turning point of the game came in the minute just before half time when Royston captain Jason Beck was sent off for a high and dangerous tackle on McBride.

With Royston down to ten men, Rugby had a chance to take advantage and substitute Seb Lake-Gaskin saw his effort go way wide from another McBride set piece.

Then the game a given a touch of brilliance from Kolodynski.

A Lake-Gaskin cross found the striker who produced a spectacular overhead kick to score one of his best goals for Rugby.

With Rugby in control, Royston knew it would be tough to get back into the game and sawthe impressive Lake-Gaskin seeing another shot go wide.

Then after 65 minutes Banks went into a 50-50 challenge with a Royston player and unfortunately Banks came off worse and immediately everybody knew it was serious injury.

After 30 minutes lying on the pitch he was taken to the changing room where he waited for the ambulance to take him Addenbrookes Hospial in Cambridge where it was confirmed his leg was broken.

It is unclear what the result will be and what the Southern League / FA will decide is the correct course of action at this stage.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Myles, Kelly (Lake-Gaskin), Rowley, Gudger; Banks, McBride, Belcher, Youngs, Blythe; Kolodynski. Subs not used: Koriya, Booth, Palmer, Miller. Booked: McBride.

Royston Town: Norris, Endacott, Beck, De La Salle, Bradshaw, Collins, Ingrey, Malins, Fehmi, Standen, Robins.