COLNE striker Andy Smith, above, looks set to miss the rest of the season after breaking a leg in a freak training accident.

The former Clitheroe front man, who has scored seven times already this season, sustained the injury after a collision with a team-mate at training on Monday night.

"It's a major blow for both the player and the club," said manager Denzil Hart.

"He was our top scorer and to lose him at this stage is going to hit us hard.

"But I'm more concerned about the lad's welfare at the moment.

"And we'll be doing everything we can to get him back on his feet."

Hart was already on the lookout for a new striker to replace Steve Gavin, who moved to Curzon Ashton during the summer where he has stormed to the top of the scoring charts with 15 so far this season.

But he'll have to step up the search now Smith is out of contention over the winter months.

"We've not really replaced Steve since he left," said Hart.

"We are making a lot of chances at the moment but we aren't really taking them. So I need to find someone clinical who can play down the middle and provide us with more of a cutting edge."

The Reds take on Squires Gate at Holt House tomorrow in a FNWTL Cup preliminary round tie.

But Mark Canning and Lee Murphy are both missing through suspension.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.