A match between Shotts Bon Accord and Blantyre Victoria had to be abandoned
by the referee after it was discovered that the three players had been the victim of an airgun attack on Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Wilson, 27, who plays for Shotts, was hit on the shoulder. His team-mate Duncan Sinclair, 35, suffered an injury to his ankle, and the Blantyre goalkeeper, Scott Thomson, was wounded in the stomach. Both Mr Wilson and Mr Thomson were taken to Hairmyres Hospital for treatment and later released. The game, watched by about 200 spectators, was abandoned after the injuries were discovered five minutes before the half-time interval.
Police officers have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries near the Castle Park ground in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, in an effort to trace the attacker.
Team officials believe the shots may have been fired from a wooded area close to the ground.
Andrew McDade, a committee member for Blantyre Victoria, said it appeared that the problem initially involved stone-throwing.
It became more sinister when all three were found to have suffered similar injuries.
"The crowd told us they heard a cracking noise which sounded like an airgun being fired," he said.
"There is a wooded area close to the pitch, and it is possible someone took some pot-shots while hidden by the trees."
Scott Robertson, the secretary for the Central League, described the shootings as "disgraceful" and said his organisation was awaiting the referee's report before making any decisions on forthcoming matches.
He said: "As far as we are aware, the shots were fired from outwith the ground and, unfortunately, we cannot legislate for that.
"The referee made the correct decision in abandoning the game, and, of course, no blame can be attached to either of the two clubs.
"I just feel sorry for the lads who were hurt. In the case of the player hit on the shoulder, that could have been an awful lot worse."
He added: "In future, it might be prudent to put committee members into the wooded area where the pellets are believed to have been fired from.
"I just hope, for everyone's sake, that the incident was a one-off."
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "The area nearby was searched but
no-one was found.
"Door-to-door inquiries have resulted in a negative result. However, our inquiries are on-going."
by the referee after it was discovered that the three players had been the victim of an airgun attack on Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Wilson, 27, who plays for Shotts, was hit on the shoulder. His team-mate Duncan Sinclair, 35, suffered an injury to his ankle, and the Blantyre goalkeeper, Scott Thomson, was wounded in the stomach. Both Mr Wilson and Mr Thomson were taken to Hairmyres Hospital for treatment and later released. The game, watched by about 200 spectators, was abandoned after the injuries were discovered five minutes before the half-time interval.
Police officers have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries near the Castle Park ground in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, in an effort to trace the attacker.
Team officials believe the shots may have been fired from a wooded area close to the ground.
Andrew McDade, a committee member for Blantyre Victoria, said it appeared that the problem initially involved stone-throwing.
It became more sinister when all three were found to have suffered similar injuries.
"The crowd told us they heard a cracking noise which sounded like an airgun being fired," he said.
"There is a wooded area close to the pitch, and it is possible someone took some pot-shots while hidden by the trees."
Scott Robertson, the secretary for the Central League, described the shootings as "disgraceful" and said his organisation was awaiting the referee's report before making any decisions on forthcoming matches.
He said: "As far as we are aware, the shots were fired from outwith the ground and, unfortunately, we cannot legislate for that.
"The referee made the correct decision in abandoning the game, and, of course, no blame can be attached to either of the two clubs.
"I just feel sorry for the lads who were hurt. In the case of the player hit on the shoulder, that could have been an awful lot worse."
He added: "In future, it might be prudent to put committee members into the wooded area where the pellets are believed to have been fired from.
"I just hope, for everyone's sake, that the incident was a one-off."
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "The area nearby was searched but
no-one was found.
"Door-to-door inquiries have resulted in a negative result. However, our inquiries are on-going."