SHERBORNE TOWN RES 4

BALTI SPORTS 2

Match abandoned

CONTROVERSY and concern dominated Balti Sports’ abandoned Jewson Dorset Premier League game at Sherborne Town Reserves.

Balti were 4-2 down after 75 minutes when play was suspended due to a worrying medical emergency in the crowd.

While the affected person is on the mend after undergoing tests, the incident sparked a heated debate between the teams over whether to continue.

Both sides had grievances with the other regarding the stopping of play, given the scoreline and the perceived advantage or disadvantage the other would face.

READ MORE: Portland United Reserves 1-2 Balti Sports - match report

However, the general consensus is that the correct decision was made by match officials to stop the game – particularly as an ambulance did not arrive until most players had returned home.

The Zebras had stormed into a 4-0 half-time lead as Steve Friend scored twice in the opening 12 minutes, followed by Elliott Mann and Tom Beeson headers.

Balti, fresh from an argument in the changing rooms at the break, halved their deficit through Danny Andrews and Jack Drummond before play was stopped 15 minutes from time.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott said: “We were well on top and with 15 minutes to go we could’ve got a third – you don’t know.

“Obviously the guy’s health was far, far more important than the football match. We had a meeting on the pitch with our players and came to the decision to not play.

“We can’t continue play when the bloke’s potentially had a cardiac arrest, we didn’t know what the situation was.

“We just knew that he’d collapsed on the floor, he’s been put on a bench, his eyes were shut and he was conscious. What if a ball hit him?

“Last time they had an ambulance come to the ground, it took five hours. We were waiting around and the referee could not make his mind up. I know it’s an awkward position for him.

“I don’t care about the points, it’s not important at all. What was important was that a Sherborne fan went to watch a game and might not have come home.

“Their physio was brilliant. We made a substitution and as we made it, we became aware of what had happened on the far side of the pitch.

“The physio ran over to deal with him and a couple of our lads are Royal Marine-trained, so they had a lot of equipment, stuff to keep him warm.

“The last thing you wanted to do was play football. Imagine if we carried on playing and it came out in the Echo that the bloke was lying there dead – it would’ve been terrible.

“We’ve got a meeting to decide whether we go back in midweek or they get the points, but we’re not fussed what the outcome is.”