IT has been a frustrating couple of weeks for Winsford United – and they have not even played.

Weather permitting, they travel to Squires Gate on Saturday, kick off 3pm, for what will be their first game in two weeks.

Tuesday’s trip across town to Northwich Victoria fell foul of the wet weather while no fixture was listed for Saturday due to their early exit from the Macron Cup.

With a 6-0 thrashing of Burscough on November 2 still fresh in their minds, Lee Duckworth’s side will have been keen to build on that game as well as their encouraging recent form.

They travel to the Lancashire coast sitting seventh in the North West Counties League Premier Division table, albeit having still played more games than most of the teams around them.

In their midst, they will have a striker who has just been named the division’s player of the month after an extraordinary October.

Sam Madeley plundered seven goals in five games during the last calendar month, including back-to-back hat-tricks in wins over Padiham and Avro.

Overall, the Blues frontman has 13 goals in 18 appearances so far and is among the league’s top goalscorers.

Winsford director Kevin Wright hailed Madeley as “a natural footballer” who scores goals of all kinds.

“Sam started four league games in October, and was substituted in the fifth,” he said.

“Quite often playing as the lone striker, he scored seven goals including back-to-back hat-tricks. This means he now has three hat-tricks this season.

“He scores goals of all varieties – headers, one-on-ones and screamers as well as tap-ins.

“He’s a natural footballer with great positional awareness and instinctive reactions. The number of times he found the corner of the net was unerring.

“Sam is a team player both on and off the pitch, with a real passion for playing football and fortunately for us, for Winsford United.”

However, as Wright explains, Madeley’s game is more than just putting the ball in the net.

“Sam’s month has not been all about goals – he provides numerous chances for colleagues and works tirelessly, defending from the front.

“I would also give him an assist from off the pitch for one goal.

“During one match after Sam had been substituted, he redirected Sam Marshall, who was wandering towards the area for a free-kick.

“Madeley instructed Marshall to go down the wing where consequently he was given the ball and provided a perfect cross for a goal.”

Middlewich Town will also hope the weather does not prevent them returning to action this weekend as they travel to Knutsford in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division.

The Witches were due to visit Poynton on Saturday, but a waterlogged pitch put paid to the fixture.

Kick off on Saturday is at 2pm.