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Matlock Town FC News

Now Or Never For Gladiators


Wednesday 6th April 2011
by IAN RICHARDSON

It's now or never for Matlock Town in terms of getting their season back on track.

Monday night's 1-0 Evo-Stik League Challenge Cup semi final defeat at Ashton United gives the Gladiators just the play offs to aim for, but a disappointing last month, which has seen them without a win in six league outings, has left them on the fringes of the race in seventh spot with just six matches remaining.

"We've got to try and win every game we play and go for eighteen out of eighteen points" Manager Mark Atkins declared, "We know we've not been playing that well and we've defended poorly, but we've got to approach these matches with the view that things are going to change and we've got to carry on battling."

It's now a case of playing catch up for Matlock and while they need to collect the points on offer themselves, they have to rely to some extent on their play off rivals dropping points.

Bradford Park Avenue, who beat Matlock 3-1 at the Horsfall Stadium three weeks ago and are one place below the Gladiators on goal difference in eighth spot, visit the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday, before Town have the chance of instant revenge on Ashton with another trip to Hurst Cross on Monday night.

Atkins will be hoping that Matlock can show the same kind of spirit and workrate that brought them a hard earned point from their 2-2 draw against champions elect FC Halifax Town at The Shay last weekend.

Matlock recovered superbly after going a goal down in only the third minute to twice draw level from the penalty spot, thanks firstly to Ross Hannah's 46th goal of the season and an 88th minute equaliser from Lee Morris.

"It was a very decent point, the team showed a lot of desire and determination and we'd harped on about the need to show these kinds of qualities for the rest of the season."

Again though, Matlock's achilles heel was conceding two cheap goals, but Atkins was pleased with his side's positive reaction.

"I wasn't happy with the two goals we conceded for really the only two times they got in behind us they scored the two goals. We'd been working on our defensive play during the week and to let a goal in early on through an error was frustrating. The pitch was skiddy having been watered earlier on and Paul Sykes was caught out by a long ball, but we should still have stopped the cross coming in afterwards. But to be fair to the lads, they didn't let that upset them and we showed a great reaction to that early goal."

Atkins was forced into changes for the semi final clash with both John McAliskey and Ryan Mallon cup tied, plus Ross Hannah back on the treatment table after having his recall halted at half time at Halifax when his hamstring injury flared up again. Then at Ashton, Matlock, down to the bare bones, lost Dene Cropper through injury during the first half.

Cropper and Hannah must both be considered doubts for both games, while Liam King will definitely sit them out through suspension after collecting ten yellow cards. Atkins will be hoping that Gareth Davies (pulled shoulder muscle) and Kris Bowler (ankle) will have recovered in time.

Their hopes of reaching their fourth League Cup final were dashed through an error which let in Ashton's Ian Bennett to net with seventeen minutes remaining.

"It was disappointing to lose, for while we weren't at our best and certain players could have given more, I felt we could have won the game but for their goalkeeper making three very good saves, but now all our focus must be on the remaining league matches and to win them."

Even if their play off dream is not realised, Atkins believes the Gladiators will still have enjoyed a good season.

"We were in a good position but have fallen away for whatever reason, but there's been a lot of things going on in the club with the development work and we've not had the opportunity budget wise to push on as much as we probably would have liked.

"If we didn't even get another point, I'd class it as a very good season as we've definitely progressed from last season when we didn't really threaten the top three or four."


 

 

 

 

RECENT STORIES

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