Out of luck and out of form Matlock Town hope to come bouncing back to form in back to back games with two struggling sides on the next two Saturdays.

 

Third from bottom Kendal Town are at the Geoquip Stadium this weekend before the Gladiators travel to Ashton United seven days later, the Robins being just two places above Kendal in the UniBond Premier Division table.

 

Matlock have lost their last two games, conceding three on each occasion, but they hope to have both skipper James Lukic and Paul Riley back in the side, both having missed the 3-0 reverse at Whitby last week.

 

And they will also be hoping to have at least one new face in their line up against the Lake District side who they beat 5-1 in both league encounters last season.

 

A central defender, on loan from a Football League club, seems likely to join them, initially for a month and joint boss Phil Brown says there could be further additions prior to Saturday.

 

"We're very hopeful we'll have the central defender in for the weekend and there could be one or two coming in on a more permanent basis, how quickly that happens depends on the clubs they are with and whether they insist on the seven days notice rule."

 

Matlock's injury position is still at crisis point, not being improved at Whitby when in form striker Dene Cropper, who had scored five times in his preceeding two full games plus a thirty minute substitute appearance, broke down with a recurrence of his knee trouble and was forced off at half time. Joint manager Gareth Williams replaced him only to become a passenger near the end, having collected a knock himself.

 

"Cropps will need another scan" explained Brown. "He felt something go and we're hoping it's not his cruciate again. We're guessing that it might be his cartilage but in any event he'll be out for quite a while."

 

Given Cropper's setback plus Simon Barraclough being expected to be out for another three to four weeks and Steve Taylor not likely to be fit before the Ashton trip, it seems likely that Brown and Williams will be looking to recruit in the striking department. Eugene Francis debuted at Whitby but found the going tough.

 

"It was difficult to judge him on Saturday as Cropps felt his knock early on and then Gripper (Williams) also collected a knock" Brown said, "But we're looking at some more signings and he (Francis) might also come good. The UniBond's a tough league and a bit different from playing reserve football at Tamworth."

 

Defender Ryan Davis needs to have a couple more injections on his damaged knee, so he might be fit to return at Ashton while Glenn Kirkwood is expected to be out for another couple of weeks yet.

 

Brown refused to put the blame for the Gladiators defeat at Whitby solely on his defence.

 

"We felt the defence did okay. They only got through us once in the first half and that was from a midfield runner, and we couldn't have asked for much more from the back four, particularly as they'd been thrown together at the last minute. We needed to defend better as a team as we didn't win enough of the second balls. We felt there was possibly a lack of confidence and there were one or two of the lads who were playing for their places that might have made a bigger impact. Having got to half time at 0-0 against the wind, we felt reaqsonably confident of getting something from the game but the two quick goals took the wind out of our sails. Its always a difficult game at Whitby but we were very disappointed to lose 3-0. Now we must focus on beating Kendal and just hope that we can get the right result. If we can get players in and get a few back, it'll give everyone a boost and there'll be a bit of a buzz about the place again. Its a difficult and tricky period at the moment because we're having to rebuild."

 

Brown praised the fans who travelled to Whitby and hopes that the fans who missed the last two home league games will return on Saturday.

 

Only 193 and 191 fans respectively witnessed the 3-1 win against Stamford and the 3-2 loss to Marine, with the Gladiators  having averaged in excess of 300 in the first three months of the campaign.

 

"We took a fair number of fans up to whitby and they were vocal and got behind us, and we could do with that same level of vocal backing at home. I admit there wasn't a lot for them to shout about against Marine but looking at things in both the short and long term, we need folk to come through the turnstiles, and that is one way which will help us to push on. Hopefully with everyone backing us, we'll come through this difficult period and finish contesting once again in the top four or five of the table."

 

Matlock face a tricky tie in the 3rd Round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup when they visit Northern Counties East League Premier Division leaders Glapwell on Tuesday or Wednesday December 18 or 19.

 

Glapwell, managed by former Gladiators defender Les McJannett, are currently unbeaten in the league so far this season and had a great run in the FA Cup before succumbing at the 3rd Qualifying Round stage to British Gas Southern League Premier Division Corby Town. Other Matlock connections at Hall Corner sees former striker Kevin Gee assisting McJannett on the coaching side, while defender Matt Varley, with the Gladiators during the 2001/02 and 2002/03 seasons, will be hoping to get one over his former employers.