Non league match abandoned due to fireworks repeatedly aimed at players

A video has gone viral appearing to show one non league match abandoned due to fireworks repeatedly aimed at players on Bonfire Night.

Hashtag United saw their game forced to be stopped after a stray firework hit a player during a reserve game against Concord Rangers.

United were hosting Rangers in their seventh game of the Essex Senior League Reserve Division One campaign, in what was a top v bottom of the table encounter.

Hashtag’s reserves haven’t been beaten this season, having won four and drawn two of their matches heading into the match against Concord.

Rangers are currently bottom of the table having lost all of their games so far as they travelled to the Len Salmon Stadium in Pitsea on Friday night.

But the game took an unexpected and concerning twist when being forced to be abandoned when one of the players was hit by a firework.

Hashtag had gone two goals up heading into the 60th minute of the Friday night clash when the ball was kicked down the left.

United player Matas Skrna was jogging back towards his own goal when a firework flashed across the pitch and hit him.

It exploded after hitting him, with multiple crackling sparkles going off around Skrna, who began hopping in apparent pain.

He then dropped to the ground clutching his leg clearly in agony, with the players calling for medical staff to come on to treat him.

Though a Concord player prepared to take a corner after Skrna had received treatment, match officials Joe Lannon, Robert Collins and Nicholas Hodges decided to abandon the game.

Hashtag released a statement announcing the abandonment, revealing that the referees were left with no choice after the house where the firework came from refused to stop.

“We expect fireworks whenever we play but not like this! Our player, Matas Skrna, is luckily ok but this could have been bad!” the statement read.

“Game abandoned at 2-0 up as house where fireworks came from refused to stop. Two more landed near pitch. Police have been notified. Stay safe.”

We expect fireworks whenever @hashtagutd play but not like this!

Our player, Matas Skrna, is luckily ok but this could have been bad!

Game abandoned at 2-0 up as house where fireworks came from refused to stop. Two more landed near pitch. Police have been notified. Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/YP22OaLDb6

— Hashtag United (@hashtagutd) November 5, 2021

Hashtag United founder and owner Spencer Owen was left furious by the incident and called for fireworks to be banned.

“Yet another reason to add to the list of reasons to sack off fireworks. Dog owners know exactly what I’m saying. Glad Matas is ok,” he wrote on Twitter.

Hashtag United Reserves’ next league game comes in fortnight’s time when they travel to Witham Town.

Their game against Concord was not the only match on Friday to be disrupted by celebrations for Bonfire Night.

In the League of Ireland, Waterford’s clash against Shamrock Rovers was suspended after fireworks exploded onto the pitch. See more on that HERE.

Twitter users reacted with the non league match abandoned due to fireworks repeatedly aimed at players…

@AldoScrim89: Madness. Honestly folk who can’t use these responsibility shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near them. Thankfully the lad is alright and avoided potential serious injury

@DerehamFan: So sorry to see this, so irresponsible . Glad the player is ok

@JukeBox2001: That was definitely deliberate

@halloweenjack01: Fuck me he was lucky!

@EthanManners1: Hate the things, so pointless and as this further reinstates how dangerous they can be

@zac_brett: The house where the fireworks came from refused to stop but should be held responsible for this incident. They’re incredibly lucky that Matas wasn’t badly injured from them!

@tomasnunn: Awful for this to happen, hope those responsible are located

@TheSacredShrimp: The sale of fireworks should be stopped and official sites should be the only method of watching them.

@FTTerracesYT: How in all that’s holy is that not intentional? Unless their garden is about 5 feet above the pitch there’s no chance in hell that a firework would ever come in at an angle like that. If the stick snapped it’d fuck off at an angle and explode over the pitch or in their fence

@Noahh_Edwards: Jesus Christ that’s so dangerous

@MANapier_20: Just shocked when I see this live. I am very grateful the player is okay and everyone as well is okay. I hope whoever done this get what they deserved. Stay safe everyone

@Muted79: What in the actual hell? glad they are ok.

@DaggerDaz: That is shocking, Intentional in my eyes. Hope he’s ok?.

@JJDuke21: Awful to see this. Relieved to hear that Matas is doing okay but this was scary just to watch on video. Can’t imagine what it was like there in person.

@ToonArmy2021: There’s no shot that that isn’t deliberate. Especially after refusing to stop when instructed to do so. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again. All the more reason to ban fireworks for public sale.

@BasildonFootie: That could of been so much worse thank god the player is ok

I find it hard to believe it wasn’t tbh. Especially when they refuse to stop after being told what’s happened.

— Spencer (@SpencerOwen) November 5, 2021

Hope all is okay, most mental thing I’ve ever seen on a pitch! pic.twitter.com/01MFpiRd5b

— Liam Wilson (@liam_wilsonnn) November 5, 2021