Stanley player Tom Bender has thanked well-wishers on Twitter for their support after he was knocked out during a game.

Tom, 18, was treated on the pitch for 30 minutes following an accidental collision with his own goalkeeper, leading to the game being abandoned.

He was sent for a brain-scan at the Royal Blackburn Hospital after the incident during the Reds’ Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match against Tranmere.

But the following day, the defender – who is on a season-long loan from¿Colchester, was discharged from the Royal Blackburn Hospital, after being kept in overnight and diagnosed with a severe concussion.

He thanked the fans via Twitter, saying: "Thank you so so much for all the messages of support – it really does mean a lot.

"I never in a million years thought I’d receive this much support.

"It truly is touching. Can’t wait to get home and see the family now."

Meanwhile, Stanley chief executive Rob Heys has defended the time the ambulance took to reach the ground. He said: "People have been trying to blow that all out of proportion.

"There’s only a finite number of ambulances in the area, and they have to prioritise them.

"We have two fully-qualified doctors and club medical staff and as much, if not more medical equipment on the ground than in an ambulance – including oxygen."

His comments came after Stanley defender Kevin Long wrote on Twitter: "Ambulance taking over 30 mins to arrive 2nite at the Accrington match, absolutely embarrassing."

An ambulance was called at 8.31pm, and arrived at 8.54pm – 23 minutes later.

An advanced paramedic arrived on the scene at 8.48pm.

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance service admitted that the ambulance had not arrived within its eight-minute target time.

On Wednesday Tom’s dad Lee said: "Tom is okay – he’s in good spirits. He doesn’t remember too much about it, but that’s nothing unusual. I’m just glad I was here really. I don’t think he knew much about it, though. He certainly didn’t acknowledge me in the hospital.

"I’d like to thank everyone from Accrington and from Tranmere and the medical staff."

Stanley manager John Coleman said: "The ball was over the top and their striker was trying to get the ball. "He was eager to get the ball and it led to Tom’s momentum going on to Ian."