Source: Matlock Mercury

 Last Saturday was a good day all round for Matlock Town and now manager Mark Atkins has issued a “let’s finish the season on a high” challenge to his players.

After the encouraging second half performance in the unlucky 2-1 defeat at Buxton on Easter Monday, the Gladiators carried on from where they left off against FC United of Manchester.

Ian Holmes put Town ahead against the play-off chasing Reds, and although an Adam Yates own goal saw FC draw level before half-time, Liam King struck the decisive blow with 17 minutes left to win all three points for Atkins’s men.

Just as satisfying as the result was the bumper attendance of 1,319 as around 900 travelling fans came down to one of their favourite venues to back their side.

“I was very pleased with the way the lads went about their work,” said Atkins. “We had a game plan and went 4-3-3 to try and combat the way FC United play. We got in amongst them and didn’t let them get into their stride and we just about deserved the win.”

This was United’s third loss on the bounce inside a week but Atkins believes they will make the play-offs, their task being made all the easier due to Northwich Victoria’s expulsion from the league at the end of the season, and their ban from the play-offs. following off-the-field difficulties.

“United are a very good side and if you finish above them then you have a very good chance of promotion,” Atkins insisted.

““I’m sure they’ll make the play-offs. but we played very well ourselves on the day. First half I was a bit disappointed as we played hoofball a little too much, but I said to the players at half-time “let’s get the ball down a bit and play” and they did.

“We created a number of good opportunities. Now the aim is to carry on in the same vein until the end of the season and secure a top half placing.”

The Gladiators played their final home match of the campaign against Whitby Town last night (Wednesday) before finishing at Rushall Olympic on Saturday.

The Pics have had a good debut season in the top flight, currently lying in ninth spot as well as reaching three cup finals.

A last-gasp penalty from Lewis McMahon gave Town a 1-0 win at the Reynolds Stadium in February.

“Rushall have done great and are a tough side to play against. It was a hard match at our place but we won and I’m confident we can go there and get something if we play like we did on Saturday,” said Atkins.

Striker Nathan Joynes is likely to be missing after his operated-on knee swelled up after two full games over Easter, forcing his exclusion last weekend. Lee Featherstone has a hamstring problem which could also force him out.

Acknowledging he has a small squad, Atkins says they deserve credit for battling on.

“We didn’t go out and bring players in around the deadline because we had the budget to consider and that is very important.

“So the players have had to battle on and some have played when not fully fit. Kris Bowler, for example, has had two knocks on his ankle plus a bad back but was still keen to pull on that blue shirt. They’ve buckled down and it was so pleasing to get a good result last Saturday.”

Fans travelling to Dales Lane on Saturday can take advantage of reduced admission prices. Adults will pay just £5 and concessions are priced at £2.50 for the final game of the season.

Matlock’s Annual Presentation Night takes place next Friday (April 27) in the Social Club. Admission is free and there will be a buffet and disco.

The Matlock Mercury-sponsored Fans Player of the Year will be announced and will be one of a number of awards made on the night.

Former Matlock striker Ross Hannah also hopes to be in attendance.

 Source: Matlock Mercury

 Matlock Town stage one of the season’s glamour home games on Saturday when play-off chasing FC United of Manchester come to town.

United are currently holding on grimly to the last play-off spot with sixth-placed Hednesford Town trailing them only on goal difference.

Defeats by Buxton and Ashton United over Easter have damaged their challenge so they will be keen to get back on track at the Reynolds Stadium.

Matlock fared marginally better over the holiday period, securing a 1-1 home draw with Marine before unluckily going down 2-1 at Buxton on Monday.

Manager Mark Atkins will be hoping his side can play as well as they did in the second half at the Silverlands this weekend and he will also remind the players of their dominant second half display against United at Stalybridge on February 29.

Two goals down at the interval, the Gladiators rallied superbly but had just an Ian Holmes goal to show for their efforts.

The Gladiators are in 14th spot and are 99.99 per cent safe from relegation, but a win on Saturday would take them to 50 points with games at home to Whitby Town on Wednesday and away at Rushall Olympic on Saturday week to finish off their season.

Atkins believes that Matlock should have reached the half century of points at Buxton but paid the price for poor defending.

“Giving away the goals in the way we did upset me because over the 90 minutes we had more possession, some good chances and it’s probably the best we’ve played for a while.

“It’s ever so disappointing to lose as both goals were down to poor defending. Buxton had three chances yet scored twice.

“I was very pleased with the performance, they gave it their all, were well up for it and dominated most of the game. Perhaps we showed naivety in trying to win the game. There are times when it’s best to settle for the draw and that’s probably what we should have done. But having said that we now have three games left and we’ve go0t to try and win them and be positive.”

Atkins answered criticism about the entertainment on offer in the Marine game by countering: “People need to realise that Marine are a very good side who have done very very well away from home.

“The plan was to keep it tight although we didn’t do as well attacking wise as I’d hoped. It was a bad error from the free kick which gave them the lead, but the lads deserve credit for not giving up and they got their equaliser.”

There was special praise from the boss for striker Nathan Joynes who has returned to the side in recent games after a knee injury which threatened to rule him out for the rest of the campaign.

“Nathan’s done great and now has two full 90 minutes over the Easter period. It was touch and go whether he’d be fit to play at Buxton but he wanted to play and did well for us, giving us a different dimension.”

The Gladiators have “three or four knocks” head of United’s visit which could attract Town’s best gate of the season, beating the 1056 who saw champions Chester win narrowly on March 24. Last season 1249 were in attendance.

Gareth Davies cut his head open and Laurence Gaughan collected a knee injury at Buxton but both should be fit. Liam King was only partially fit on Monday after his deadleg against Marine so was an unused substitute, while Paul Riley was ill. King and Riley should also be available while striker Liam Wilkin will need a fitness check after missing the last three games with damaged ribs.