A JUNIOR football match had to be abandoned on Monday night after a stricken Ardeer Thistle player suffered an agonising injury and had to be taken to hospital.

James Maxwell fell to the ground early in the second half following an innocuous challenge by a Saltcoats Vics player at Campbell Park and it later emerged he had suffered a broken collarbone.

The Ayrshire District League game was delayed while the player was assessed but after 20 minutes with Maxwell still on the ground, referee Calum Haswell abandoned the match.

Club secretary Peter McBlain, the player's nephew said: "James was sending a cross into the box when he was challenged by a defender but there was no malice in it. We had a close look at him and after 20 minutes the referee decided the game should be abandoned as the light was fading and the match couldn't be completed. The club chairman Boyd Miller spoke to a paramedic by phone and he was advised not to move him as the injury could have been aggravated if we did.

"We kept James warm but had to wait for a couple of hours from the call for the ambulance to arrive as it was a non-emergency. James was taken to Crosshouse Hospital and will need an operation. Hopefully he will be on the mend and everyone at the club wishes him well. Unfortunately he will be out for the rest of the season."

For the record Ardeer were leading 4-1 at the time, but the game will will have to be replayed.

Meanwhile McBlain was impressed with their showing in the West of Scotland Cup as lost only on penalties to higher league Kilsyth Rangers.

He said: "We played well and were 3-1 up but they came back strongly."