WHEN he lifted the ball over Congleton’s goalkeeper to score his second goal on Tuesday night, Matthew Beadle will not have contemplated its wider significance.

It reduced his side’s arrears to 4-2 with little more than 20 minutes left, and the 27-year-old front man’s only concern was completing a comeback.

And with time running out substitute Michael Brandon did exactly that, diverting Ryan Jackson’s cross into the net with the faintest of touches to pinch a point for the visitors.

It preserved a remarkable record.

Since his switch from Maine Road before the start of last season, 1874 Northwich have not lost a match – in league or cup – during which Beadle has found the net.

On the contrary, they almost always win when he does.

The striker has scored in 17 Premier Division fixtures for Ian Street’s men, 14 of them ending in victory.

Add three draws, and those games have yielded a 45-point haul from 51 up for grabs.

Last term Beadle was also on the mark seven times in five knockout ties, between FA Cup and FA Vase, that yielded four wins and a draw.

His midweek double at Booth Street increased his goals tally for the club to 34 in 46 appearances.

Only Brandon, now on 67, has more since they formed.

Perversely, two spells out injured have prevented Beadle from being able to boast of even more impressive numbers.

He missed three months of his debut campaign at Barton Stadium after hurting his knee in a training-ground accident.

And after limping off during the first half of a friendly against Rudheath in July, following a tackle that damaged an ankle, he did not start a match this term until September 16.

1874 drew 3-3 at AFC Liverpool that night, when – of course – he beat the goalkeeper twice.

“It’s hard when you’re sat watching and can do nothing,” he told the Guardian during an interview earlier this year.

“When you do come back, you’re raring to go.”

His scoring exploits inspire those around him too.

Beadle’s goals for 1874 are spread over 22 matches.

In those fixtures, his teammates have added a further 47 to his contribution to make a total of 81 - that’s an average of nearly four a game.

 

Northwich Guardian:

 

Those statistics are made starker by the fact he has not been even nearly as prolific elsewhere.

Following a spell in Bristol Rovers’ Academy after leaving school, he played in the Southern League for the likes of Taunton, Yate, Bridgwater and Almondsbury before dropping down to county league level.

He managed eight goals for Maine Road after moving to Manchester from Bristol, enough to persuade Street to sign him less than 18 months ago.

“The 1874 fans are great,” said Beadle.

“Hearing them definitely gives us that bit extra when we’re out on the pitch.”

The feeling is certainly mutual.

Because put simply; when Beadle converts a chance, those supporters have reason to be cheerful.