Darlington’s shock 1-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Droylsden, the Blue Square North side, was placed firmly into perspective last night by an injury to Liam Hatch, which left their forward in hospital with a suspected broken neck.

Hatch, 26, was taken to Tameside Hospital after a collision with Richie Foran, his team-mate, nine minutes from the end of the first-round replay forced the tie to be delayed for almost half an hour while he received extensive specialist treatment.

An ambulance crew and paramedics immobilised the 6ft 3in forward, who joined Darlington at the end of August on loan from Peterborough United, the club that he joined in January after a five-year spell with Barnet, his first Football League side.

After Hatch had been taken to hospital, David Penney, the Darlington manager, petitioned Kevin Wright, the referee, to abandon the game, such was the distress of their players, some of whom spoke of hearing a loud crack as Hatch collapsed.

“There was a loud crack as his neck and shoulder hit the ground,” David Jones, the Darlington director of football, said. “The players lost their aptitude after the injury. The referee spoke to both managers. Dave Penney didn’t want to play on but theirs did, so it was down to the referee.

“The most important thing is the health of Liam. He was conscious, which is a good sign and hopefully the injury is not as bad as first feared. We had to wait for an ambulance to come from the local Hope Hospital, because the club didn’t have the sort of stretcher required. You obviously have to be very careful about moving players in these circumstances — their lives can be at risk.”

Droylsden led thanks to a first-half goal from Matthew Tipton, who converted a cross by Neil Prince. But Darlington’s sombre mood and concern after the game was not eased by the response of Dave Pace, the Droylsden manager, who hinted that the Coca-Cola League Two club were hoping to use the injury to force an abandonment.

“I’m delighted because this is just magnificent for the town, the players and the supporters,” Pace said. “I didn’t see what happened, but it was unnerving. Mr Penney was keen for the game to be called off. Is that a laugh? There was only 12 minutes to go. It was a fantastic performance from my team and we got our just rewards. Over the two games we deserved to win and Darlington got what they deserved — nothing.”

Penney and club officials made the detour to visit their colleague on their way back to the North East last night. A hospital spokesman declined to give details of the player’s condition.

“It was just a collision between Richie and him,” Penney said before leaving the Butcher’s Arms Ground. “The delay came because we were waiting for the ambulance to come. A decision to abandon the game was up to the referee. We didn’t play well enough and Droylsden deserved to go through.”

The evening’s other giant-killers were Kettering Town, of the Blue Square Premier, who beat Lincoln City 2-1 with a goal in stoppage time by Iyseden Christie at Sincil Bank. The first match at Rockingham Road was marred by ill-feeling after allegations of racist abuse against the Lincoln bench.

Grays Athletic harboured hopes of beating Carlisle United, of Coca-Cola League One, when Sam Sloma put the Blue Square Premier side ahead after 18 minutes. Two minutes later, however, the floodlights went out — and stayed out. The match was abandoned and Grays, who were forced to slash their players’ salaries last month because they lost the backing of their three main sponsors, are now faced with having to pay for Carlisle’s 660-mile round trip from Cumbria all over again.