1874 NORTHWICH will be without leading scorer Matthew Beadle for at least the next fortnight, manager Ian Street has confirmed.

The front man, who has 21 goals to his name this season, suffered an injury to his knee while keeping goal during a training session.

He has not started a game for the North West Counties League club since a 5-0 win at Stockport Sports on December 2, after which the ex-Maine Road man has nursed a slight groin strain.

“We were told four to six weeks following an initial diagnosis,” said Street.

“We’ll wait and see how it goes.

“It’s just one of those things; he was in goal and stuck out a leg to stop a shot. It was then he felt something.”

Beadle will sit out a home date with third-placed Ashton Athletic at Barton Stadium this weekend, after which 1874 are not scheduled to play again until Tuesday, January 20, when they visit Crewe Alexandra in the Cheshire FA Senior Cup.

They complete the month with the return game against Stockport before visiting Glossop North End.