MERSTHAM manager Hayden Bird has praised local rivals Chipstead as a "great example" after their response to an injury winger Taurean Roberts picked up in last week's local derby.
With the 90 minutes nearly up, and Chipstead heading for a 4-1 win at the Moatside, visiting defender Sam Charles went in for a full-bloodied tackle on Roberts and, with the help of sodden pitch, crashed into the Merstham player, before accidently landing on him.
Roberts immediately grabbed his knee with team-mate Sam Tucknott calling for a leg brace and stretcher, as both physios rushed to help the stricken player.
The knee injury turned out not to be as serious as first though, although Bird does not expect the winger to be able to train this week, however the Merstham manager was glowing with his praise for the opposition.
"It was a horrific challenge and Taurean is lucky his injury wasn't worst but I thought the way Chipstead handled it was fantastic," Bird enthused. "The next day we were contacted by the directors at Chipstead, who apologised and enquired about Taurean's health.
"And then after that, the player, Sam Charles, sent an email apologising and passing on his best wishes. For both the club and the player to contact us was a wonderful gesture and really it was a great example."
