A SERIOUS injury to Bolton County midfielder Tom Aspin overshadowed their first game of 2015 as Division One’s basement club went down 4-0 at Hurst Green.

Aspin had to be taken to hospital with a deep cut in his leg that required surgery following an accidental collision in the second half.

Mark Ormrod’s side were still in the game at that point but the manager believes his players were still in shock as they went on to concede three late goals.

“We were 1-0 down at the start of the second half when Tom went up for a header defending a corner,” said Ormrod.

“The Hurst Green player he challenged was wearing blades and when they came down it sliced through him like a Stanley knife.

“The game was delayed by 15 to 20 minutes while we contacted the ambulance but by then the damage was done as the players had been shocked by it.

“It was a really deep gash and it was so bad I could see the bone. He needed to go into theatre to get it all stitched back up and is out of hospital now.”

County lost 4-0 but Ormrod insists a heavy pitch and tired legs was to blame.

In the same division, Tempest United boss Gary Westhead described their 3-2 home defeat to Dalton United as a “dreadful performance”.

After going a goal down, Matty Carter levelled on 70 minutes before Liam Stewart headed them in front with only five minutes remaining, but the visitors stole the points with two late goals.

A 20-yard strike from Liam Ralph helped Stoneclough to a 2-1 win against Furness Rovers in Division Two after the Cumbrian side had cancelled out Jimmy Freebourne’s opener.

Ladybridge came back from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Milnthorpe. The visitors went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes before goals from Scott Adamson, Sam Parkinson and Liam Green turned the game on its head, only for Ladybridge to concede a sloppy late equaliser.

“It was not a result we were looking for, but after such a poor start to the game the lads showed great character to fight back from 2-0 down," said Ladybridge manager.

“We controlled the second half but failed to kill them off.”

Eagley moved two points clear of the drop zone in the Premier Division after coming out on top in a 10-goal thriller against Crookland Casuals. Player-manager Simon Whaley and Ashley Walton both scored twice, while Matthew Johnstone and Andrew Lindley were also on target in the 6-4 victory.