Dennis Wainwright had suffered a fracture of his right ankle which will keep him out of Sunday's FA Cup final match against Dandy Town.

Wainwright received the injury during the first half of his team's recent match against Boulevard when he was involved in a tackle with Kenny Hill. He was able to finish the half after having the ankle taped, but did not return for the second half.

"I didn't realise how bad it was until Sunday night when it swelled up,'' said Wainwright yesterday. "And Monday morning I couldn't walk on it.'' Unable to get an appointment to have it checked on Monday, Wainwright was given the disheartening news following an X-ray yesterday morning. The diagnosis amounted to a fracture of the joint where the foot and the shin meet.

Now confined to crutches, the 30 year-old defender will have to wait until the swelling in the injured area subsides before he can be fitted with a cast.

After that it is estimated that he will require three or four weeks of recovery time.

Ironically, Wainwright was also forced to miss last year's FA Cup -- because of work committments -- and said that he intended on making this one his retirement match.

"I had planned on retiring from the First Division after this game (FA Cup final). I'll still do so but I'm going to continue to play in the Alliance Division.'' Wainwright, a 10-year veteran, in his fourth year as a member of the Zebras, was due to play in his second FA Cup final with the squad after spending his early playing days at Devonshire Cougars. His position will most likely be filled by Anthony Stovell, who took over from him during the second half on Sunday and who has played in that position on numerous occasions.

This is the second fullback PHC have lost to a leg fracture this season as Nelson Simons suffered a broken leg in a league match against North Village earlier in the year.

CROCKED! -- Disappointed Dennis Wainwright, pictured, right, challenging Southampton Rangers' Eugene Pitt, will be missing from the PHC line-up for Sunday's FA Cup final. He was injured in league action against Boulevard at the weekend.