A frozen pitch foiled Shaun Goater in his bid to add to his league-leading tally of 23 goals on Saturday.

Against lowly Crewe, the crack Bermudian marksman would have fancied his chances of finding the net again, but Manchester City's match was one of many called off as a winter storm swept across northern England.

Goater's goal haul this season remains the best in the country, six better than his closest rival in the First Division, Clinton Morrison of Crystal Palace who has 17.

However, Arsenal star Thierry Henry drew closer yesterday when he banged home his 22nd of the season from the penalty spot in the Gunners' 2-1 win at Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Bermuda's other English professional, Kyle Lightbourne, could be ruled out of Macclesfield's next two matches after he was forced to hobble off in Friday night's 1-1 draw with high-flying Shrewsbury.

Lightbourne, who has been in and out of the side this season, had come on as a second-half substitute before suffering a recurrence of an old ankle injury.

"Kyle will need to settle down for 24 hours. He just seems to be unlucky," said Macclesfield manager Dave Moss.

"It's the same injury as before, pretty much the same spot on the same ankle."

Lightbourne is likely to miss both of this week's games against Halifax and Mansfield, but will hope to be fit for the club's much-anticipated FA Cup tie against Premier League West Ham on January 6.