LIGHTNING may never strike twice, but it seems footballers’ wayward shots can.

Unlucky Oxford United fan Val Kemish was struck on the head by a flying ball at the Kassam Stadium for the second time in two seasons in exactly the same seat.

The disabled season-ticket holder from Chalgrove took her eyes off the pitch for a split second ahead of Oxford’s game with Accrington Stanley and was hit by goalkeeper Simon Eastwood’s shot.

Last year she was also struck in the face by a drive from winger Alex Rhodes.

So when she arrived at United’s next home game against Morecambe last week she was in for a surprise.

Eastwood and team-mate Sam Deering presented Mrs Kemish with a hard hat signed by all the players and a bouquet of yellow and blue flowers.

Mrs Kemish, who’s in her 60s, said: “The first time it happened I was reading the programme, which is something I’ve never done, and the ball hit me.

“This time I was deliberately making sure I was watching the pitch but I’d just turned because a friend of my husband was coming up the stairs and...whack!”

Goalkeeper Eastwood rushed to Mrs Kemish’s aid before she was treated by St John Ambulance staff and went home, missing the game.

She said: “I thought he’s (Eastwood) only 21. What an example to the younger generation that he has bothered to make sure I was OK. He was a thoroughly nice young man. I was a bit stunned when they gave me the flowers.”

Eastwood, who joined United in the summer, said: “I rushed to check she was OK immediately after the ball hit her, but when I heard she missed the game I was gutted.

“The least we could do was some flowers, and hopefully she won’t need the hard hat any more. I think I might stick to saving shots in the warm up from now on.”

When asked if she would change her season ticket for another seat, Mrs Kemish insisted she was happy with the view – but her new hard hat could come in useful.