Friday 19th September 2014
by Ian Richardson

Matlock Manager Mark Atkins (left), got one of his three targets this week as Jamie Yates arrived from North Ferriby United on a month's loan.

The 25 year old has family connections with the Gladiators for his father Lenny was a popular midfielder or defender with Matlock thirty years ago.

The Town chief is clearly hoping that the attacking midfielder will make his side a more potent attacking force, the Gladiators having netted just nine times in league and cup matches this term, and having failed to find the net in four of them.

Yates began his career with Rotherham United and, having graduated from the youth team, he made 34 first team appearances for the Millers between 2006 and 2009, netting three goals before going out on loan to Burton Albion, scoring once in six appearances for the Brewers.



After making just two appearances for Alfreton Town, Yates (above), moved to Boston United and played in 77 games, finding the net on eight occasions before joining Lincolnshire rivals Gainsborough Trinity in 2011. At the Northolme, he played in 91 matches, hitting three goals.

A move to North Ferriby followed at the start of last season where he played a key part in the Villagers reaching the Conference North play offs, with three goals and a number of assists in his 48 appearances.

"I've been talking with Billy (Heath) at North Ferriby for two or so weeks now wanting to bring the lad to us, I thought we'd managed it last week but the move was held up, but now we've got him on loan and I think he'll do well for us" Atkins explained.

"He's an attacking wide midfield player who can score goals, he's got a lot of experience with quality in the final third. We haven't created enough so far this season, so I believe he'll help us in that respect so we can be more attack minded."

Yates will go straight into the Matlock squad for their trip to Nantwich Town on Saturday as they return to league action following the disappointment of a late, narrow FA Cup exit at home to Ilkeston last weekend.

"The defeat was down to a few factors but mainly it was because we conceded two poor goals" reckoned Atkins. "We defended poorly and were punished. The injuries we suffered didn't help, nor did the incredible five minutes plus of injury time at the end of the first half, but we shot ourselves in the foot!

"Corey Gregory (left), did really well and put us in front with a great finish. The plan was to try and get in front and dominate, in all honesty we looked comfortable until the 50th minute! So it was disappointing to go in 1-1 at half time, but I still thought we had enough to go on and win the game."

David Haggerty was helped off just before Ilkeston's equaliser with a leg injury and is rated as extremely doubtful for the weekend. Joe Leesley was left out after suffering from concussion after the draw at FC United of Manchester, which saw him spend the night in hospital, his place being taken by Phil Roe who made his first appearance since half way through the pre season campaign after foot injury. Roe still needs games to regain full fitness and Leesley should be back in contention to face the Dabbers, who themselves have not set the league alight so far.

With Tuesday night's scheduled opponents Whitby Town involved in a midweek FA Cup replay (a loss to Shildon on Wednesday evening), a free midweek may have proven to be a blessing for Matlock, but they slipped down to 20th spot following results elsewhere.

"We need a win as soon as possible" said Atkins. "Just one win so far is disappointing for there have been some good performances such as at FC United and at home to Blyth in there. But we'll head to Nantwich looking for the win, it's a nice but difficult place to go to. We're out of the cup now so the league has to be our main priority at the moment, we need points to try and get up that league table."

Striker Zeph Thomas, a summer recruit has been released by Matlock to join Evo-Stik First Division South Goole, managed by his former boss at Sheffield FC, Curtis Woodhouse.

Atkins is still on the lookout to boost his squad and he was out watching a game on Tuesday as his players trained in readiness for the weekend.

Matlock will now play Whitby on Saturday week (27th) - a rescheduled fixture as the home game against Rushall Olympic has been put off due to the Pics progressing in the FA Cup.

RECENT STORIES

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MATLOCK NEWS -
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MATLOCK MANAGER ATKINS RESIGNS FOLLOWING HEAVY HOME DEFEAT -
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Following Saturdays 3-1 League defeat away to Nantwich, Matlock's Monday night friendly win against Rossington Main proved to be useful for Matlock as boss Mark Atkins gave several fringe players a run out in what turned out to be a well contested affair.
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0 SIGNINGS -
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GLADIATORS EARN DESERVED BANK HOLIDAY POINT AT BELPER -
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MATLOCK NEWS AHEAD OF FINAL
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Matlock Town visit Sheffield FC in their final pre season outing on Saturday 9th August with boss Mark Atkins pledging that places are still up for grabs in the side to face Trafford in the season's curtain raiser on August 16th. More...

MATLOCK NEWS ROUND UP AS INJURY CRISIS GETS WORSE -
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LEICESTER'S YOUNG GUNS TOO STRONG FOR WEAKENED GLADIATORS -
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MATLOCK MAKE IT FIVE PRE-SEASON WINS IN A ROW -
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MATLOCK NOTCH UP
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Corey Gregory's 13th minute header won the game for Matlock, who after looking like hitting a cricket score, increasingly lost their way as the game wore on. More...

MATLOCK GET A DESERVED WIN VS GRIMSBY, PLUS FULL FIXTURES LIST -
Amongst the Gladiators pre-season build up, they put together a promising performance at the weekend as they deservedly beat Grimsby Town, who were beaten play off semi-finalists in the Conference National last term. More...

GLADIATORS BOSS ADMITS STRIKER'S DEPARTURE IS "A HUGE BLOW" -
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GLADIATORS HIT A SIX IN A PRE-SEASON GAMES BONANZA -
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MATLOCK TOWN GET RAMS, OWLS & FOXES VISITS AS WORKSOP TOWN RESIGN -
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MATLOCK EARN A LAST MINUTE POINT AGAINST BUXTON. MATCH REPORT -
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MATLOCK'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY AS THEY DRAW AT NANTWICH TOWN -
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ATKINS - 'STILL A LOT TO PLAY FOR' MATLOCK TOWN'S NEWS ROUND UP -
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MATLOCK AGREE LUCRATIVE NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH AUTOWORLD -
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MATLOCK HIT FOR SIX AS THEIR UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN ABRUPT END -
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GLADIATORS GO
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GLADIATORS EARN A HARD FOUGHT WIN AT HOME TO DROYLSDEN. MATCH REPORT -
Matlock got the win everyone expected against the basement side, but it was a more difficult challenge than the 4-1 win at the Butchers Arms in October More...

THIS WEEK'S NEWS FROM MATLOCK AND
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MATLOCK'S MATCH AT STORMY STAMFORD
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Referee David Plowright halted proceedings after 23 minutes when a fierce thunderstorm engulfed the ground and left the pitch saturated. More...

McMAHON SCORES TWO TO GIVE MATLOCK THREE. MATCH REPORT -
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LATE PENALTY DENIES MATLOCK A WIN AFTER SCRAPPY ENCOUNTER -
A 78th minute penalty leveller denied Matlock all three points from a scrappy encounter at The Meres against Grantham Town. More...

MATLOCK NEWS AND PREVIEW OF SATURDAY'S AWAY TRIP TO GRANTHAM -
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MATLOCK'S INABILITY TO FINISH COSTS THEM ANOTHER 3 POINTS -
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MATLOCK'S DERBY DRAW IN THE DARK
AS BUXTON'S BULBS BLOW! -
The lights went out with a bang at the Silverlands to end this Boxing Day A6 derby early at half time. More...

MATLOCK GET THE CLEAN SHEET - BUT NOT THE THREE POINTS -
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ALL THE GLADIATORS' NEWS AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEK FIXTURES -
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MATLOCK DEFEAT AT STOCKSBRIDGE WAS "LARGELY SELF INFLICTED" -
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MATLOCK MAKE IT AN UNWANTED HAT TRICK WITH A THIRD CUP EXIT -
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MATLOCK GET THEIR FIRST WIN IN SIX AS THEY BEAT
TRAFFORD -
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MATLOCK HAVE 'ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME' AFTER
DEFEAT TO WITTON -
Matlock had only themselves to blame for not winning a game they dominated at Witton Albion. More...

MATLOCK MAKE HARD WORK OF A WIN OVER HALLAM IN MID-WEEK FRIENDLY -
The Gladiators made hard work of beating Toolstation NCEL First Division visitors Hallam, in a hastily arranged friendly game at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday night More...

MATLOCK SUFFER UNDESERVED FA TROPHY EXIT AT CHORLEY -
Chorley secured a hat-trick of victories against Matlock with this FA Trophy result at Victory Park last Saturday, but the 2-0 scoreline fails to tell the whole story as Matlock deserved at least a replay. More...

MATLOCK MAKE A POINT AGAINST HIGH FLYERS AFC FYLDE. MATCH REPORT -
Danny Holland had given Matlock a deserved interval lead against title contenders AFC Fylde, but the Coasters got a fortunate break five minutes into the second half to level through Andy Russell. More...

TOUGH FIXTURES AND A FAIR PLAY AWARD IN A GLADIATORS NEWS ROUND-UP -
If Monday's FA Trophy draw seemed tough - a visit to Chorley on November 16th - then Mark Atkins' men received confirmation that would be the case in Tuesday night's 3-1 league defeat on the same ground. More...

GLADIATORS FALL AT THE HANDS OF LIKELY DIVISION CHAMPIONS. MATCH REPORT -
Sometimes it's a case of holding hands up and admitting the better side won! This was the case for away fans at Victory Park on Bonfire Night, as the fireworks came from Chorley, who completed a league double over Matlock More...

Related Links

Matlock Town Website