HADLEIGH United manager Steve Jay is frantically searching round to sign a goalkeeper for tomorrow after regular keeper Luke Whitwell discovered he had played the previous four and a half matches with a broken leg Now the club are trying to find a replacement for the Ridgeons League, First Division home game against Swaffham.

Elvin King

HADLEIGH United manager Steve Jay is frantically searching round to sign a goalkeeper for tomorrow after regular keeper Luke Whitwell discovered he had played the previous four and a half matches with a broken leg

Now the club are trying to find a replacement for the Ridgeons League, First Division home game against Swaffham.

The 25-year-old was found to have a slight crack in his shin bone after the pain became so unbearable that he underwent an x-ray last weekend.

Whitwell suffered the injured against Stanway last month - and remarkably since then he kept three clean sheets before being on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat against Gorleston last Saturday.

“Every time I took a knock it was painful, and it made me wince every time I took a kick,” said Whitwell a heating engineer.

“But I was able to get through matches, and it was not until after we were thumped on Saturday that the pain got to me.

“My leg ached so much on Sunday that I went for an x-ray.”

He has been told to rest for four to six weeks, but declined the suggestion that he should wear a special support boot to help mend the crack.

“I am self employed and can't afford to be off work,” added Whitwell, who can drive and walk around without too many problems.

“The injury occurred when I ran 35-yards out of goal to kick the ball away and collided with an opponent.

“Our defence deserves praise for our recent run of clean sheets, and I can't wait to get back and will be watching tomorrow's game.”

Whitwell's injury brings to seven the number of first teamers Jay has out of the reckoning at the moment.

“They would all be in my starting line-up tomorrow,” said Jay, who is contacting other clubs to see if anyone can help with his goalkeeping problem.

Brantham Athletic and Ipswich Wanderers are also are home tomorrow, while in the Premier Division Felixstowe and Walton United, Whitton and Woodbridge are all away.

In the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL, leaders Grundisburgh will start favourites to win their derby against Westerfield United, while unbeaten Crane Sports will have to be at their best to be sure of collecting three points against Ransomes Sports.

Capel Plough, beaten by Grundisburgh last weekend, will be looking to get back to winning ways in their home game against near neighbours East Bergholt.