UniBond League

Matlock Town have discovered how quickly fortunes can change in football as they have lost all four games played since the turn of the year.....this after losing just once in twelve outings before the festive period, to Blue Square Conference National outfit Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy.

2010's barren run has seen the Gladiators lose league and League Cup games at Nantwich Town and lose at North Ferriby United and at home last Saturday to high riding Bradford Park Avenue. Although only two teams are set to go down from a now reduced twenty club division,Matlock chief Mark Atkins is keen to bring their mid season slump to a swift end.

"We've not had the rub of the green in some games but equally we've not performed as well as we did before the bad weather came, so really we've only got ourselves to blame" he admitted. "But we've got to keep on working hard, do the right things, and make sure that we turn things round as soon as we can."

Their latest defeat was by a 3-1 margin to a Bradford side who are unbeaten away from home so far this season and Atkins felt that the Gladiators' opening to the game handed the initiative to the visitors.

"Bradford have a good squad, you only had to look at who they had on the bench to see that. All of their back four had played at least Conference North level recently, but in the first hour we showed them too much respect, and they took advantage. They got the first goal which gave them a springboard for the rest of the game. The turning point was their second goal when we thought their lad climbed all over Scott Brough to set up the chance. But the ref allowed the goal. The team deserve credit for getting back to 2-1 by half time and we thought we could get something out of the game. We were better in the second half but we didn't create enough before getting done by a deflection through the middle for the third goal which to be fair, their lad took really well. I can't fault the lads for effort but we've got to take the result on the chin, accept Bradford were better than us and be ready for the next game."

Matlock's last three league defeats have resulted in them conceding league doubles, but Saturday's trip to sixth placed Ashton United gives the Gladiators to record their first league double of the campaign. The Robins were put to the sword when they came to Causeway Lane as league leaders in November as Town's best performance of the season saw them hammer five goals without reply past Ashton.

"That was a very good performance and on the day everything went right. But we know Ashton are a good side and they're not up in sixth place for nothing. But we're going to go there with a positive attitude, work hard and battle together. On our day we can beat anyone. The lads believe we can get through this run and we're going to go there and do our best to get a good result."

James Lukic is expected to serve a one game suspension on Saturday following his sending off at North Ferriby, and while Matlock have received paperwork from the Football Association relating to the incident, there is no confirmation as yet of any ban. So it is a case of wait and see for Lukic and Gladiators fans as Matlock officials seek confirmation of their team captain's fate from FA Headquarters.

The only other doubt is striker Dene Cropper who was forced to sit out the Bradford game after a recurrence of his knee injury.

"He felt some discomfort after playing in the cup game at Nantwich so we need to manage it the best we can from week to week, but I'm hoping he managed a reserve game on Wednesday" Atkins explained.

The manager said that he agreed with fans' views on a thread on the Gladiators website that the loss of Simon Sturdy and Gareth Davies was a factor in Matlock's loss of form, but it was not the sole reason.

"To be honest Simon and Gareth were two of our best three players in that unbeaten run and losing them would leave a hole in any team. But it's not all down to that. It was a real blow losing both of them in the same week but it also gave other players the chance but we've not really done well enough as a team in these games. I believe that the loss of the three points we won against King's Lynn has hurt us more than anything for had they been able to continue, King's Lynn would most likely have beaten a lot of the teams towards the bottom end of the table."

Atkins thought that he had found a ready made replacement for Davies last week until the move broke down at the last minute. The manager would not reveal the player's identity but said that the deal looked "done and dusted until Thursday night."

"We'd put in the proper seven days notice and had spoken to the lad last Wednesday and both parties were happy with the terms of the deal but he came to us on Thursday night saying he wanted something different, but it was something that as a football club we couldn't and wouldn't be prepared to do, so we move on."

Matlock are now looking to bring in a player on loan and Atkins was at a Blue Square North game in midweek looking at a potential target. But he stressed that he would not bring anyone in "just for the sake of it."

"Anyone who joins us has got to be at least equal if not better than what we've already got, capable of making a good contribution. We've got to keep an eye on the budget as we always knew that we'd face a difficult year, but I know the squad is on the small side. We've had seventeen year olds on the bench. Obviously as well we've got a suspensions to deal with so its also important we keep eleven players on the pitch. Ben (Algar)got sent off last week for retaliation. He's not that type of lad but there can be no excuses. He deserved to be sent off, it was just disappointing the way in which their lad went down as if he'd been shot and stayed down."

Algar will sit out the Gladiators forthcoming home games with Kendal Town and Durham City plus the match at Ossett Town in between.

Meanwhile under 19 star Josh Wain, who was an unused substitute on Saturday and in the FA Trophy replay win against Witton Albion in December, could be set for international honours.

Wain was due to join up with the England Schools squad (today, Thursday) for four days of training at Lilieshall, hoping to be win a place in the side to face Australia at Shrewsbury Town on Sunday.

Ian Richardson.