Heatley taken to hospital as Carrick v Bangor abandoned

Paul Heatley was taken to hospital after colliding with the wall around the pitch at Taylors Avenue

The Irish Premiership match between Carrick Rangers and Bangor on Saturday was abandoned following an injury to Paul Heatley.

Carrick forward Heatley collided with the wall surrounding the pitch at Taylors Avenue eight minutes into the second half.

The 38-year-old received treatment at the side of the pitch and was taken to hospital after being placed into the ambulance on a stretcher.

The decision was made to abandon the fixture by referee Christopher Morrison as there was no ambulance in place after Heatley was transported from the ground.

"Today's Sports Direct Premiership fixture between Carrick Rangers and Bangor has been abandoned following a serious injury to a Carrick Rangers player," said a statement from the Northern Ireland Football League.

"Further updates regarding the fixture will be communicated in due course."

Bangor were 1-0 up through Ben Arthurs' opener in the 14th minute.

Heatley was attempting to cross the ball in the second half when he collided with the perimeter wall.

"The doctors spoke to me and said he was taken to hospital to determine the extent of the injury," Carrick manager Stephen Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"No-one wants to see that type of thing in our local game.

"Thankfully the board was in position where it was behind the goal, and he didn't hit the wall. The split in his head is extensive, and now you worry about the head injury.

"The medical team were fantastic in how they dealt with everything. We got him off to hospital and we'll wait for the report as to how it will all come back. I thought the referee handed it well."

'Right decision to abandon game'

Baxter said he felt it was the "right decision" to abandon the game and his players "were not keen to play on".

"If you don't have an ambulance here then you've no cover," he added.

"While there was one or two medical people still in the stadium, it didn't feel right for everyone.

"It was the right thing to do. Football is a game we all love and enjoy, with the friendships and camaraderie, but when it comes to someone's health, you make all the right calls for the right reasons and the right decision was made today."

That was echoed by Bangor's assistant manager, Dean Gordon, who felt it was the right thing to stop the game despite his side holding a 1-0 advantage.

"First and foremost, we wish Paul all the best. You have to consider him at the end of the day, and his family were there watching," he said.

"It was the right call to make. The players had been standing about for 25 or 30 minutes, and some of the players had seen the incident as well.

"It's frustrating from our perspective as we were winning 1-0, but it was the right call."

Baxter said that improvements for stadiums in the Irish Premiership "can't come quick enough".

Carrick Rangers were one of 20 clubs who progressed to the next stage in a bid to secure a slice of the Northern Ireland Football Fund.

Carrick applied for £5.8m for improvements to Taylors Avenue.

"These stadiums are built in a certain way. We have had the discussions at length this week about the stadium funding and the improvements that are needed around our grounds.

"It couldn't come quick enough, and I mean that for every ground. I've been saying it for years, the stadiums need upgrading to the standard of Irish League football.

"If walls can be taken away in that process, that would be great. We're interested in peoples' health and well-being."