CR Marks Kirtlington substitute Steven Brock is recovering in hospital after suffering a triple leg fracture during their Autotype UTV League Ridgeway Cup final against Wheatsheaf Didcot.

The incident caused the match, at Wantage on Sunday, to be abandoned after 68 minutes.

Wheatsheaf were leading 3-0 with goals from Ben Sutton (pen), John Willis and Danny McGibbon.

The injury occurred after an alleged spitting incident, and the game was called off after the ambulance took an hour to arrive.

Trouble started when Wheatsheaf's JR Willis was hit in the face.

Club secretary Paul Tappin claims that as Willis then spat to clear his mouth his spit hit Brock in the face.

CR Marks centre forward Ian Feaver said: "Brock had only just been brought on when the player spat straight into his face.

"The officials didn't see it and the game just carried on. We were all incensed."

But Wheatsheaf's Tappin said: "I didn't see it, but my players told me Willis caught one of the opposition with his spit. He apologised - he's not the sort of player who would do that intentionally.

Feaver said: "Just a minute after the spitting had taken place, Brock tackled him, but it was clearly a foul and he took the bloke's legs from underneath him."

Feaver added: "The referee was going to send Brock off when the league committee decided the match should be abandoned.

Doug Williamson, secretary of the UTV League, said: "I was at the match and no spitting incidents were reported to me.

"The only complaint we have is that the ambulance took so long."

Helen Robinson, of the Oxfordshire Ambulance Trust, said: "The information we received indicated the player's injuries were not life-threatening and an appropriate response was planned."

The league hope to play the remaining 22 minutes at a later date.