Monday's FA Cup Third Qualifying Round draw saw the boot on the other foot for Matlock Town after their fabulous 3-1 home victory against AFC Telford United on Saturday. After being classed as the underdogs against the Bucks, the Gladiators will be expected to come out on top against UniBond First Division North Harrogate Railway when the clubs meet in Yorkshire on Saturday week.

But Railway have already sprung a surprise in the competition this season with a win probably more impressive than Matlock's as last weekend they humbled Telford's Blue Square North rivals Leigh RMI by a resounding 4-1 margin, after going behind early on.Although they have not landed a plum glamour tie, it at least gives the Gladiators a chance of further progress, although they will be wary of Railway's thrashing of Leigh.
"Its not an attractive tie for the neutrals but its a winnable one" said Matlock joint boss Gareth Williams.

"Its a draw we can be pleased with but if you're not up to it on the day you can get punished. With only about two or three UniBond Premier Division teams left in we're very glad to get this far."

Fellow joint boss Phil Brown was hoping to take in Railway's home meeting with Rossendale United last night (Wednesday).
"We'll look at them and if we can't get in the flesh so to speak, we'll talk to clubs that have played them. They had a great win against Leigh RMI and we're under no illusions it will be a tough game, but once you reach the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup there's no easy game. We've got to make sure we've prepared right and then hopefully we'll do ourselves justice. The ?5000 on offer in the next round is obviously a big carrot for us".

The game will have a 1-30 pm kick off so fans can watch most of the England EURO 2008 qualifier with Estonia afterwards.
 Brown was understandably drooling with his side's performance and the result against Telford.
"I'm delighted for it means a lot to the club, but also for the players who've tasted FA Cup glory in what was a great day for them. It was particularly great for James Lukic on his 400th game for the club in what was a fine team performance and he was made up afterwards. We created quite a few chances against a good side, we were happy with the football we played, the togetherness we showed and we looked quite solid."

But before the Harrogate clash, Matlock have two vital league games and they can be termed as tough ones, particularly as they have collected just two points from their last three games.
They travel to face fourth placed Fleetwood Town on Saturday before returning to the Geoquip Stadium on Tuesday night to take on mid table Hednesford Town, fresh from an excellent 2-1 FA Cup replay success at Alfreton this last midweek.

Brown believes that Matlock deserved more from these last three league outings and if they can maintain the level of performance from those games, they are capable of picking up the points they need.
"We've been unlucky for we played well up at Witton and at home to Gateshead although we were a bit below par at Frickley. If justice had been done we'd have had more than just the two points. Its not a slump in form and we'll go into the games in good heart and in good form and hopefully we'll pick up some points".

Fleetwood beat Matlock 1-0 in last season's UniBond League Challenge Cup Final, but Brown does not necessarily see Saturday's game as a revenge mission.
 "I think we got our revenge in getting to the play offs and Fleetwood not making it, but it'd be nice to get a decent result up there. Fleetwood were one of the pre season favourites to win the league so they'll be stern competitors for us. But by the end of the weekend we'll have played ten games, having come up against Witton, Gateshead and Fleetwood. Whitby were also a decent side so we're not too bad off."

Matlock have a clean bill of health going into the games. Paul Riley limped off in the 76th minute against Telford but has fully recovered and should be in the frame for selection. Riley was replaced by new signing Matty Caudwell from Worksop Town who signed on the dotted line last Friday. Primarily a winger, Caudwell , who had league experience with Doncaster Rovers and was at Gainsborough Trinity before his move to Worksop in the close season, can also slot in at left back, and has been a long standing transfer target for the Gladiators.
"At last we've got him" joked Brown. "We're delighted he's come to us as we were after him during the summer as he was our original choice to fill the left side role. We've lookd at other options with Steve Warne and others doing ever so well there but always felt we needed a left footer. He played a lot of games at left back for Gainsborough last season but really he's an attacking left sider with a lot of pace and a lot of skill and hopefully he'll excite the fans."

Meanwhile off the pitch plans are in place to renew efforts in breathing life into the club's New Stand Appeal which has gone rather quiet in recent months. A forum for all interested fans to solely discuss the appeal will be held in the Gladiators Social Club on Thursday October 18 starting at 8 pm. Stand Committee member and Supporters Club Vice Chairman Jason Beaumont believes it is vital to get the appeal up and running again.
"For one reason or another the appeal has come to something of a standstill but withe the team doing so well on the field we really need to get it up and going again.So we've arranged a forum open to all interested parties with an agenda of first of all presenting the current stand plans and looking at the fund raising efforts so far. Then we'll consider the current financial position of the project and provide an insight as to what the target is.

We'll look at the present status of the Stand Committee and the opportunity is there for attendees to broach potential new areas to cover with new faces coming forward to join the committee and assist at fund raising events. We're looking forward to as many people being there as possible to help get this project going again. Anyone who can't make it on the night can speak to me or Graham Mumby at a game or ring us."
Jason can be contacted on 07817 712063 and Graham on 07793 867275.

Matlock skipper James Lukic received a magnum of champagme from the Matlock Supporters Club after a sparkling team performance against Telford in Lukic's 400th game. "What a great day for the club and for James. He has been a wonderful servant to Matlock Town and we're hoping he will continue to be for many years to come. To have played 400 games and still be only 25 is incredible" said Beaumont. The award was made by Matlock Chairman Darrell Holmes on the pitch as the players left the field to a standing ovation.