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Bender injury halts game

Image: Crown Ground: Accrington's clash with Tranmere was abandoned

Accrington's Johnstone's Paint Trophy game with Tranmere was abandoned after 39 minutes due to a serious injury to Tom Bender.

Accrington tie abandoned after youngster knocked unconscious

Accrington's Johnstone's Paint Trophy game with Tranmere was abandoned after 39 minutes due to a serious injury to Tom Bender. The 18-year-old was treated for 30 minutes on the field at the Crown Ground before being taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious, where he is in a stable condition with a head injury. Bender - who is on loan with the League Two side from Colchester - was caught in a collision in the area between Stanley goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin and Tranmere's Lucas Akins. He was on a drip before he left in an ambulance. Both teams had left the field while Bender was treated by club medical staff and paramedics and once he had been stretchered from the pitch the decision was taken to abandon the game. Accrington Stanley chief executive Rob Heys told Sky Sports News that the Welsh youngster had begun to come round before leaving for further expert medical care.

Ambulance

Heys told Sky Sports News: "He is just about to leave in the ambulance now and be taken to the local hospital. Hopefully we will have some good news on him soon. "He wasn't initially (conscious), but he started to come round as time went by, so that is a good sign. "We are not sure on his exact condition, but he is in good hands. He was on the ground for a long time and was looked after by our staff and then the paramedics when they arrived. "It was just a collision. One of the Tranmere attackers and our goalkeeper together with Tom, they kind of collided together. "You are always a little bit concerned when a player lies still rather than moving around. The two physios were straight on the field and joined by our club doctor." Stanley had taken the lead in the ninth minute when Kevin McIntyre's cross was turned into his own goal by Zoumana Bakayogo but Tranmere hit back to lead 2-1 with goals from Ash Taylor (20) and Mustafa Tiryaki (35), before play was halted.

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