THE Swindon Sunday League game between Swindon United and Stratton Saints in Division Four had to be called off after striker James Saunders suffered a horrific leg break.

Saunders, who scored in Swindon & District League George Thomas/Don Rogers Cup final last season, was taken to hospital after a collision with the United goalkeeper.

Stratton were attacking at the time and, as the ball hit the cross bar, Saunders collided with the outrushing keeper and it was immediately clear that he had suffered a bad injury.

“We were attacking at the other end and the keeper and Jamie came together,” said Stratton manager Alan Spring.

“All we heard was a noise and I was quite a distance away and didn’t realise what the noise was.

“We have seen an x-ray of it and he has broken both the bones right through.

“It was just a coming together and one of those things that happens which you wish would never happen to any player in any sport.”

Stratton were losing 1-0 in the first half but after the incident, there was no doubt from either side that the players would not be in the right frame of mind to continue playing and the game was called off.

Saunders was taken to hospital by ambulance and will now require surgery to fix the break.

“Everybody did what they could to help and restrict Jamie’s movement,” added Spring.

“Carl Wheeler was the nearest player and he held the leg in place and he said that he could feel the bone moving.

“Jamie just wanted to move, to be honest, but we had to say you can’t move, but for a person who was clearly in a lot of pain he was in good spirits.”