Irvine Meadow defender Calum Gow is out for the rest of the season – after a car ran over his foot.
The towering centre-half was struck by a passing vehicle as he stood beside his own motor on Sunday.
Gow tried to walk the injury off before the pain got too much and he headed for A&E.
A scan there revealed a fracture which will rule him out of action for at least six weeks - effectively ending his season.
Just 24 hours earlier he had produced a man of the match performance as Medda beat Benburb 3-1 in a West Premiership clash.
Gutted Meadow co-boss Colin Spence said: “You couldn’t make it up.
“Gowser had just had his best game so far and then this happens.
“It’s a complete freak accident but it sums up the bad luck we’ve had with injuries this season.”
The blow comes as Meadow prepare to host Pollok in the third round of the West of Scotland Cup on Saturday.
They’ll also have to do without player boss James Latta who is suspended after picking up a red card against the Bens.
Spence added: “We’re down to the bare bones but it’s not a good time of the season to bring bodies in.
“We’ll have to just go with what we’ve got for the rest of the season and If I have to pull on the boots again to help out I will.”
Spence received one defensive boost this week when centre-half Darren Miller extended his contract until next summer.
Meadow are close to tying down a few more key players but Adam Forsyth won’t be one of them.
The striker has left the club by mutual consent after struggling with a knee injury for most of the season.
