Southbank suffered a double loss as they tumbled out of the Berks & Bucks
Junior Cup and also lost keeper Luke Howroyd for 3 months with a broken leg.
Southbank had started the game the better of the two sides with Steve Woodrow
and Bryce Bellman having good opportunities to open the scoring for The
'Bank. It was Tavern that got the breakthrough however after good work
down their right wing was followed by a poor cross that Howroyd should've
dealt with easily. However, the wet conditions made the ball a giant
bar of soap and Luke let the ball through his grasp and into the net for a
soft goal.
Southbank were undeterred however and with Towner and Galante getting a
hold in the middle of the park and Jeff Evans working tirelessly upfront it
was looking like only a matter of time before an equaliser came, then
disaster struck.
A long ball over the top of the Southbank defence looked to heading
harmlessly through to Luke who'd rushed off his line. A determined run
by Taverns Richard Weekes saw the two players collide on the skiddy surface.
Immediately things didn't appear good for the Southbank keeper as his shinpad
had been split by the force of the impact. As Luke was helped to his
feet it became apparent that his injuries were worse than first thought.
Speedy attention from paramedics saw Luke whisked to hospital with a
suspected broken Tibia. X-rays confirmed the bad news and Luke was kept
in overnight and his shin set in plaster for 8-10 weeks.
Despite initial thoughts to abandon the game Towner took over in goal as
Southbank saw out the half.
A spirited second half display should've resulted in better fortune for
Southbank but short comings in front of goal and some strange refereeing
decisions left Southbank disappointed to come away with a 1-0 defeat to cap a
sorry morning.
Everyone at Southbank wishes Luke a speedy recovery and hope to see him
back in action when he returns to fitness.
Team (4-4-2):
Howroyd (Holton), Gull, Latch, Fitzpatrick, Price, Thurgood, Galante, Towner,
Bellman, Woodrow, Evans