GOALKEEPER James Bittner is fighting to be fit for Chippenham Town's game against Halesowen after suffering a bizarre injury as he took to the field.

The luckless 20-year-old, from West Lavington, was hit on the shoulder by a stray hockey ball when the Bluebirds entertained Stafford on Saturday. The ball had been hit from the all-weather pitches adjacent to Hardenhuish anmd cleared a 15ft perimeter fence before it thumped into him.

The incident happened at the Sheldon School end just moments before the kick off. Bittner received lengthy treatment from Chippenham physio Paul Watts and elected to start the game, but was replaced by debutant Liam Bull after only two minutes.

An x-ray at Bath's Royal United Hospital on Sunday ruled out initial fears that the hockey ball had fractured Bittner's collarbone, but his shoulder remains badly bruised.

Said Bittner: "It was painful enough that it hit me on the shoulder. If it had hit me on the head then I would have been dead. I was lucky in a way.

"I couldn't believe it when it hit me. My shoulder just went dead and I thought 'what the Hell was that?' It is badly bruised and I've got a big lump there. I couldn't believe it. The ball cleared two 15ft fences and then another 18 yards to hit me. To think someone can hit a ball that far and that hard is frightening. I suppose it was lucky, in a way, that it hit me and not an opposing player or supporter."

The freak accident ruled Bittner out of Tuesday's abandoned Wiltshire Premier Shield clash at Salisbury.

He played for Queens Park Rangers reserves last week and manager Ian Holloway was due to watch the game at Raymond McEnhill Stadium with a view to signing the young stopper.

Said Bittner: "Nick Culkin injured his knee at Swindon and their only fit goalkeeper now is Chris Day. There has been contact between Chippenham and QPR and Tommy Saunders has said he won't stand in my way if I want to go."

Saturday's top-of-the-table clash ended 1-1 and manager Saunders felt Bittner's injury had dented his side's chances of victory.

He said: "For us it has had serious repercussions. James had been fantastic this year and is a tremendous goalkeeper. The hockey pitch is 20 yards away, there is a great big fence, and what are the chances of a ball hitting somebody?

"I think Chippenham Hockey Club or whoever they were playing need to have a serious look at themselves because obviously their shooting isn't very good. But it isn't a joking matter. James Bittner is the best goalkeeper in this league and we need him back as soon as possible."

The ball was hit by a Chippenham Men's first team player as they warmed up for their home game against Yate and South Gloucester.

Hockey Club chairman John Cull said: "The players were taking shots at goal and one hit the top edge of the crossbar and looped up over the fence and onto the football pitch.

"We didn't know at that stage what had happened, and didn't go to get our ball back because we knew there was a game going on. Hopefully it won't happen again and the player in question takes his rightful place in goal again soon."

The incident has been reported to the hockey club's landlords, the Chippenham Astroturf Project Foundation.

Bluebirds chairman Malcolm Lyus csaid his club will not be taking any further action. He said: "It was just totally bizarre."

Bull will continue to deputise should Bittner fail to recover in time for Saturday's game. JP Mills, Mark Badman, Scott Walker and Dave Godley all return to the squad after missing the midweek game at Salisbury.