Sheeran was involved in a fifty-fifty challenge which resulted in the horror injury and caused the Peterborough League Premier Division fixture to be abandoned with 15 minutes remaining and Parson Drove leading 1-0.

The extent of the damage coupled with the player's relatively advanced years - Sheeran is now 30 - means Wimblington boss Chris Bartlett has now lost two key men in as many weeks.

Following a nasty head injury last week, captain Jamie Whitock has been forced to call it a day leaving Bartlett to rue the loss of two true club men.

He said: "Everyone is absolutely gutted for Chris as he is a real heart and soul player and someone who will give everything for this club.

"It was an honest challenge from both players but sadly he came out of it badly and with a recovery time of at least a year and a half I cannot see him coming back which is a real sickener.

"We expect the game to be replayed and I have to say that the Parson Drove lads were superb about the whole thing.

"All in all it has been a really hard time for us all at the club having lost Jamie, who was my captain, last week.

"Jamie has now had one too many bangs on the head and we couldn't risk him getting another knock which could be very serious.

"Both players are real Wimblington lads and they will be missed but we will soldier on and try to do both those lads proud this season."

Elsewhere in the top flight Whittlesey remain on target for what manager Paul Humphries hopes will be a top-four finish after goals from Peter Fox, Matthew Heron, Garry Jackson and Robert Speechley saw Uppingham well beaten away from home.

Humphies said: "It was a tougher game than the scoreline suggests and we could have been a couple down before we started scoring.

"But once we got ahead we looked a lot more comfortable.

"Despite the fact that we have already lost three games I am still hopeful we can finish in the top four which would be a good achievement for us."

In Jaguar Division One, Warboys opened up a five-point lead at the top when Adam Browne hit the only goal of the game against Thorney while Coates kept up the pressure on the leaders with a 2-0 home win against Eye Sports in which Paul Hibbins and Rikki Wilmer were both on target.

In Vauxhall Division Two, Manea keep up the heat on leaders Powerleague with Robert Collins, James Harness and Mark Heading all on target against Gedney Hill while Whittlesey United Reserves went top in the Honda Combination Divison One thanks to a Jamie Lazenby double in a 2-1 win against Fletton Reserves.

In the PFA Senior Cup, Leverington Sports beat Guyhirn 4-2 while in the Lincolnshire Junior Cup, Deeping Sports beat Telford 5-2 with Ryan Birtles, Ian Bradbury, Matthew Farrington (2) and Carl Griffiths all on target.