Winger Whelpdale suffers split testicles

It was a game for which the result was supposed to have been a foregone conclusion. The home team, Crawley Town, were unbeaten in 15 games and sitting at the top of the table whilst the away team, Gillingham, were experiencing their usual mixed form.

Punters were offered varying odds on a Gillingham win, with Betfred opting for 4/1 whilst one online betting website was offering odds of 15/1 – how I wish I had stuck with my gut feeling and placed a bet with them! Crawley, on the other hand, were odds on favourites.

It was perhaps a pleasant surprise, then, when the final result featured a 2-1 win for the away team, with Jo Kuffour – on loan from Bristol Rovers – equalising and drawing ahead in under five minutes in the second half, after a first-half penalty scored by Crawley’s Matt Tubbs.

Despite the result placing The Gills in good stead for a serious promotion challenge (they are currently sixth in the League Two table), there were two players for whom the game will not be remembered fondly.

Luke Rooney, playing his first match since contract renewal negotiations broke down, was brought in off the subs bench in the 41st minute to replace a limping Matt Fish. However, he received two yellow cards with the second seeing him sent off in injury time in the second half. He is now facing a two-match ban.

Perhaps more seriously, Chris Whelpdale suffered an agonising injury after being tackled late in the game, which ripped open his testicles. Facing every man’s worst nightmare, Whelpdale was left needing stitches in his testicles.

The Gills’ Manager Andy Hesenthaler said “I’m not making that up, we’ve seen it in there. It’s an horrific injury and it’ll be pretty sore and I’m sure his wife won’t be too happy about that tonight either!”

The cost of the surprise win leaves Hessenthaler with three less players for Friday night’s trip to Dagenham & Redbridge – both Fish and Whelpdale are doubtful due to their injuries whilst Rooney’s ban rules him out.