A SERIOUS injury to a home player brought a premature end to Kendal Town's vital Evo-Stik League basement battle at Skelmersdale United on Saturday.

The match had to be abandoned after 78 minutes following a serious injury to Skelmersdale United substitute Oliver Van Veen, who had only been on the field for 15 minutes, near the centre circle.

The score was locked at 1-1 when Van Veen's injury left referee Mary Ryder with no other choice but to call the game off as the emergency services were called in.

Earlier, Kendal had made a bright start and were 1-0 up after 19 minutes when Brad Carroll scored following a good delivery to the far post by Jacob Davies.

Town continued to dominated with the wind and rain at their backs and Max Brown was unlucky when his goalbound effort was halted by a spectacular one-handed save by Skem keeper Terence Smith.

But Brown, on loan from Carlisle, should have scored soon after when he was one-on-one with the keeper but allowed Smith to win the ball just as he was about to shoot.

Both teams struggled from that point on as the horrendous weather closed in, so Kendal held the advantage at half time.

Skelmersdale began to get into the game after the break but goalmouth incident was rare – sub Van Veen going closest as he headed over from close range.

Bthe home team found an equaliser after 74 minutes when John Keatley capitalised on a deflected free kick which fell into his path to place the ball home from close range.

Lifted by the goal and with the weather at their backs, the hosts applied a lot of pressure on Kendal which was only relieved when Van Veen's injury forced the stoppage.

The teams will replay the game at a later date – meaning Kendal remain second from bottom in the table with Christmas nearing and the team scheduled to entertain Colwyn Bay on Saturday in another crucial game.

Skelmersdale's Van Veen was taken to hospital by ambulance straight from the field but was discharged later that evening an is expected to make a quick and safe recovery.

Final score: Skelmersdale United 1 Kendal Town 1

In other news, Town midfielder Brad Carroll, the scorer of the goal at Skelmersdale, has now left the club and signed for EvoStik Premier Division Side Workington Reds. Carroll had been a key part but has opted to go elsewhere and with no player under contract anyone can just leave and go elsewhere.