Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins says that the recipe for avoiding relegation is quite simple. "Stop making mistakes and giving away stupid goals".
The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder was reflecting on his first home game in charge which saw the Gladiators draw 2-2 with fellow strugglers Worksop Town last weekend. Matlock found themselves two goals adrift with nineteen minutes left as the Tigers took advantage of the home side's errors, but a great recovery led by winger Jamie Jackson, who bagged both goals, had Matlock back on level terms by the 76th minute.
"We made two mistakes and it led to two Worksop goals. We like to play attractive positive football but the quicker we can drill it into them that we have to cut out the errors, the better" said Atkins who felt that in general Matlock had played well.
"Really it was two points lost for us for we had the better of the game and the better of the chances. I was very satisfied with the way we played in the first forty minutes, but we then lost a goal and we were awful in the last five minutes of the first half. We played a square ball which always has a chance of being intercepted in this league and really we need to play the ball forward a lot more. I can handle goals going in against us when they are wonder goals but I can't stand it when we give cheap ones away that can go on and cost us the game."
An underhit knock back towards goalkeeper Andy Richmond from 19 year old loanee from Alfreton Town, Aidan Flint, led to Worksop doubling their lead and while there was a feeling of resignation on the terraces, Atkins said he was still confident of getting something from the match.
"Aidan did very well considering it was his first game and that he didn't know the other players or the league. He was unfortunate with the back pass and perhaps on reflection he should have got rid but he put in a good performance. Afterwards he came to me and said he felt devastated at giving the goal away and that he could do better. That's a good thing and I like that in players as it shows the determination to do well. I believed we could still get something from the game and so did the players and full credit to them for the way they responded and in the end we were unlucky not to win."
Former Chesterfield winger Jamie Jackson at last showed some of the form he is capable of as he led the Gladiators' fightback. And Atkins revealed that a subtle change in tactics helped the cause.
"We asked Jamie to come in more off the line where he could get involved more and it certainly worked for both goals. He was in the middle to finish off the cross for his first goal before scoring a beauty with a great run through the centre of their defence. He's a matchwinner and we need matchwinners in the team. I want him to play every week but he has to put the performances in and that's the same for everybody. If people play well then they will keep their place."
With Matlock fifth from the foot of the table, but effectively in a relegation place due to fourth bottom Boston United being just a point behind them with a massive six games in hand, the need to end a winless run now stretching to eight league games, which has brought in a miserly three points, becomes increasingly urgent. One of the defeats within this terrible run was the 1-3 loss at this weekend's opponents Frickley Athletic a fortnight ago in Atkins' first game at the helm.
"We know what they're like. They'll be big and strong and will do everything in their power to stop us from playing and impose their game on us. But we must stand up and be counted and battle hard. If we can do that then we can win the game. We need everyone pulling in the right direction and I've had that as I've had a good reaction from everyone at the club since I came here. I'm enjoying it. The fans too have been good and it was nice to see them clapping the players off on Saturday. In the situation we're in we need the fans to be with us and I'd like them to give us a bit of time. I'm speaking to a lot of players and managers. The important thing is to get that first win as soon as we can for that could act as a catalyst to further wins for us."
Matlock hope to include centre back Rob Pacey and striker Ross Hannah in their squad to face Frickley who have won their last three league games to rise from the relegation places to the comfort of mid table. Pacey missed the Worksop clash after suffering a bout of sickness and diahorrea while a recurrence of Hannah's groin injury forced him off at Frickley and also out of last weekend's game.
Pacey would have played had Tuesday night's UniBond League Challenge Cup visit to Buxton not been postponed for a second time. The clubs will try again this coming Tuesday (7.45 pm).
Meanwhile there was good news off the pitch for Matlock when the Derbyshire Dales District Council's Planning Committee unanimously approved the Gladiators' application for their new stand construction on the Dene Fields side of the ground.
Delighted club official Jason Beaumont believes that Matlock can now press on and provide a great facility for the club and the local community.
"This is not just great news for the football club but also for the whole town who will very soon be given a fantastic facility. all being well work will start early in the new year to clear the way for the stand with the main construction coming at the end of this season in readiness for parts of it being open in the new season. It's not too late for people to get involved and in fact there's no better time to lend a hand whether in terms of pledging time, materials or even buying a brick as the more resources and cash we have, the better the overall facility can be. So if anyone out there wants to help, please contact me on 07817 712063 or any member of the various committees at the club."
Atkins also welcomed the news saying "That's brilliant and it shows that people are working hard behind the scenes for the good of the club."
