(foto: Twitter)
Dartford defender Joe Tennent suffered a serious facial injury against Welling United and will undergo surgery to reconstruct his cheekbone.
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A non-league match in England produced disturbing scenes after Dartford defender Joe Tennent suffered multiple facial fractures during a 3-0 defeat to Welling United.
The 28-year-old was seriously injured during a first-half incident involving Nahum Melvin-Lambert. Tennent was attempting to play the ball out from defence when the Welling player caught him directly in the head with his right arm.
Tennent immediately collapsed to the ground and was unable to continue. Despite the severity of the contact, the referee showed Melvin-Lambert only a yellow card.
Footage of the incident makes for uncomfortable viewing, with questions inevitably raised over whether the punishment was sufficient given the nature of the challenge.
Dartford confirm serious facial fractures
Dartford later revealed the extent of Tennent's injuries, confirming that the defender will require surgery. "Joe Tennent has suffered a displaced facial fracture. He will have to have his cheekbone reconstructed on Wednesday," the club announced.
The injury is a major blow for Tennent, who joined Dartford from Dover Athletic last September and quickly established himself as an important player under manager Ady Pennock.
The evening had been intended as a celebration for Dartford, with the club marking the 20th anniversary of Princes Park and organising a musical event alongside the fixture.
Instead, Dartford finished the night with a 3-0 defeat and far greater concern for Tennent, whose recovery will now take priority after a brutal start to the new campaign.