CHIPPENHAM Town forward Matt Rawlins will miss Saturday's crunch Dr Martens Premier Division game against Stafford Rangers after he was attacked with an iron bar in a late-night incident on Sunday.

Fans favourite Rawlins was struck on the back of the head after coming to the aid of his girlfriend in Corn Street, Bristol, as a stranger attempted to steal her handbag.

The former Arsenal trainee believes he and his partner were set upon by two men, and received 18 stitches to a head wound at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Rawlins also cracked a bone in his wrist during the scuffle, and the length of his lay-off will depend on whether he needs a cast for it to heal properly.

He missed Tuesday's 1-0 Dr Martens Cup defeat at the hands of Halesowen, but will have the stitches removed early next week and has an outside chance of returning for the Wiltshire Premier Shield clash at Salisbury on Tuesday night.

The 26-year-old scaffolder was left shaken by the incident, which he has not reported to the police.

He said: "It was my girlfriend's bag they were after. I've gone over to say stop and he has hit me on the side of the head.

"That was it. They were gone. By the time I got out of hospital it was 5am and there was no point in calling the police.

"The good thing was they didn't get away with anything. All she had in her bag was cards and about £6.

"But I didn't see it coming. Things like that don't normally happen to me and I'm annoyed about it."

Rawlins, last season's 21-goal top scorer, only won back his first team place last month after a frustrating spell on the bench. He is unhappy at missing out on two of the Bluebirds' most crucial games of the season.

Said Rawlins: "I'd only just got back into the team and it is an absolute nightmare. Football was the first thing I thought of."

Chippenham manager Tommy Saunders was forced to reshuffle his pack at Halesowen as a result of Rawlins' withdrawal. He said: "It is a big loss to the team.

He has 18 stitches in his head and I hope the police catch whoever did it."

Saunders' squad has been depleted by injury ahead of the visit of Stafford, who currently lie two points behind the Bluebirds with a game in hand.

Steve Brown will miss out after sustaining a shin injury at Worcester, while Mark Harrington is out for a month following an ankle operation. Mark Badman is also struggling with a groin injury.

Ex-Swindon Town defender Gareth Davies is still recovering from an ankle injury, and Saunders' patience with the Welshman appears to be wearing thin.

Said Saunders: "We are struggling with injuries at the moment. Everyone has a run like during the season and this is ours.''