Just over eighteen months ago, Matlock Town and Saturday's opponents Witton Albion locked horns in a UniBond Premier Division semi final play off clash, hoping for a place in the final and a hair's breadth from the Conference Blue Square North.
But now they are both in deep relegation trouble with the Albion in bottom place and the Gladiators just two places higher. And while the Wincham Park clash does not have the glory and prestige of that May 2007 meeting, it matches it for importance.
Since that epic encounter which Witton won 4-2 after extra time, both clubs have lost key players. Gone from Matlock are the likes of Ian Holmes, Tom Cahill, Kris Bowler, Wayne Diuk, Steve Circuit, Steve Taylor, Glenn Kirkwood and most recently skipper James Lukic. But Witton have probably been even more greatly depleted with almost their full squad having departed since last Spring with captain and stalwart Brian Pritchard being
Quite simply it is a game which neither club can afford to lose and from the Matlock viewpoint, the win would be particularly welcome having gone nearly three months and eleven league games without collecting a maximum point haul. A 3-2 home verdict on October 14 in former managers' Phil Brown and Gareth Williams last league game in charge was the last time the Gladiators tasted victory in domestic action.
Since then a miserly five points have been put on the board but Matlock will take heart from being unbeaten in their last three league and cup outings as draws at both Prescot Cables and most encouragingly in the Boxing Day derby at Ilkeston sandwiched a 3-1 home win over Glapwell in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
Manager Mark Atkins was hoping to build on the excellent performance at the New Manor Ground but the deep freeze intervened meaning that the home league game with Buxton and the UniBond League Challenge Cup visit to the Silverlands last Saturday bit the dust.
"It would have been nice to maintain the momentum after the excellent performance at Ilkeston but it's this time of the year and you can't argue with the weather" reflected a philosophical Atkins. "It would have been nice to have played a couple more games while things were going well."
Hopes that the League Cup game would go ahead at the sixth time of asking were almost certainly dashed on Wednesday night as temperatures plummeted even further, and if as widely expected, the match received the thumbs down at the lunchtime inspection, it is expected that the game will be put back to next Wednesday.
The Matlock squad have been hard at work on the training ground. They had a two hour plus session in Doncaster last Saturday with further training on Tuesday and tonight ahead of Saturday's crucial clash.
"Everybody appears to be okay. We had 21 players there on Saturday on grass. Everyone worked hard and we're raring for a game" said Atkins who despite their rock bottom position, has plenty of respect for Witton.
"People say that this is our most important game of the season but really they're all important.They're another team down there and I want us to go there with the right attitude and desire like we had at Ilkeston. If we can get that right, I'm confident that our football will take care of itself. It's really strange that both clubs are down near the bottom but it was only this week that I realised that Matlock were just one point off relegation last season. Witton should really have got promoted straightaway last season instead of having to go into the play offs. I saw them play Buxton in last season's play off semi and they should have won it. They may be bottom but they'll be a tough side and have had a couple of wins lately. We'll need to be at our best.and with nearly everyone fit we hope we can again put on a good show."
Atkins search for new signings continued as he has a couple of irons in the fire ahead of the weekend. "We might have someone in for Saturday as I'm talking to a couple of players but it's up to the lads currently here to prove to me that they're worth their place. Everyone did really well at Ilkeston and I'm looking for that standard of performance to continue."
There has, however, been one addition to the playing squad. Former Doncaster Rovers, Harrogate Town and Stalybridge Celtic goalkeeper Nick Buxton who has been helping Atkins out since his arrival at Causeway lane, primarily with goalkeeper coaching, signed on the dotted line last week.
"Paul Pettinger and Andy Richmond will be fighting it out for the number one shirt but we've signed Nick on just in case we need him. He's been keeping himself fit by playing on a Sunday and he's there should anything happen to both Petts and Andy."
Matlock though could yet be out of action again on Saturday as temperatures look set to again drop below freezing point during the nights ahead. Witton's home League Cup fixture with Marine was frozen off on Tuesday and was provisionally rescheduled for tonight. If it is again off this evening, it would appear that Saturday's game would be extremely doubtful as temperatures look set to dip to -4 in Northwich.
Frost permitting, Matlock Town Junior Tigers U13's will be in action at Causeway Lane this Sunday (10-30 am) as they take on Buxton U13's. This will be the first of fifteen games that the various junior Gladiators sides will play on the ground between now and the end of the season. Admission is free.
