Colchester manager John Ward said he and Blues boss Paul Jewell agreed to abandon Town’s pre-season friendly at Colchester along with referee Darren Deadman after U’s midfielder Andy Bond suffered a serious facial injury in the game’s closing stages. Ward revealed Bond lost a tooth and was unconscious for 30 seconds before he was helped to an ambulance at the side of the pitch with blood streaming down his face.
The U's boss said: "It was a fantastic game and we've had a sad ending with a player getting quite seriously injured.
"He's had a little bit of concussion and has lost a tooth - he was out for about 30 seconds. He was totally disorientated - that's why the referee made the correct decision agreed by Paul Jewell and myself.
"Our sole concern is the health of the player. The fact that he walked off was a major bonus, given what we had feared."
Asked to comment on the booing by some Town supporters, Ward added: "You had better speak to them about that.
"The Colchester United fans had total respect for what went on. Other people have to be responsible for their own actions."