The former Aston Villa man was tackled in the 35th minute by Cambridge defender Warren Goodhind, who clipped the 22-year-old’s ankle in a cynical challenge as United looked to take the lead in Saturday’s vital Third Division clash. Smith went down clutching his ankle, and as the crowd in the East Greens gave him a standing ovation, he put his hands to his head in agony.
His worst fears were confirmed in Southend Hospital, where he was taken immediately after leaving the pitch on a stretcher. The combative midfielder was diagnosed with a fractured dislocation of his ankle, and was forced to have an operation on the troubled area. That has now taken place and he is recuperating in hospital for the next couple of days.
However, from simply missing the LDV Vans Trophy area final against Colchester United on Tuesday evening as first hoped by many inside the ground, Smith will sit out the rest of the campaign in a similar situation to the way in which he found himself sidelined at the end of 2002/3, and will now wait anxiously to see of he is awarded the new contract his form so richly deserves.
In the immediate short-term, caretaker managers Steve Tilson and Paul Brush are struggling to find a replacement for the pocket-sized Seasider, with Mark Bentley cup-tied for the U’s clash tomorrow night. Mark Gower or Che Wilson are favourites to perform in the middle, with Steven Clark returning to his left-wing berth. Tilson will now be hoping that Jmaie Fullarton and Leke Odunsi recover from their long-term injuries in the near future.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com