A GOALKEEPER suffered a broken nose when he was punched in the face by a thug who invaded the pitch.
Andrew Lord was playing for Whinney Hill Reserves against the Bridge Inn at Wilson's playing fields, Clayton-le-Moors, when the hooligan, apparently a passer-by, ran on to the pitch with two friends and assaulted him.
Shocked players and officials rushed to his aid after being alerted by a spectator and helped the injured goalkeeper off the field.
Referee Brian Rutter said: "The ball was at the other end of the field so everybody was concentrating on that. Somebody shouted and we turned to see the goalkeeper on the floor and three lads running away. They were nothing to do with any of the teams that were down there."
The Accrington Combination Walmsley Cup match, which was in its 49th minute, was abandoned with Whinney Hill leading 1-0. It is expected to be replayed next month.
Mike Price, manager of the Whinney Hill side, said he couldn't believe what had happened.
He added: "Andrew was standing on his own at one end because we were attacking and everybody was watching the ball. Then a spectator ran across the pitch shouting: 'It was those three lads.' We looked and the goalkeeper was down on all fours with blood dripping from his nose. We chased the lads but they ran off.
"We helped Andrew off the pitch and he went straight to hospital. The police were called and took statements.
"The incident completely shocked us all. No-one can believe it."
Andrew's dad said from their home in Burnley Road, Accrington, that his son did not want to comment.
Police are investigating.
