Two Matlock Town wins in four days has delighted boss Mark Atkins who prior to last weekend's home clash with Kendal Town, had set his players a target of nine points from their next three games.
The Gladiators made a great start in disposing of the Lake District side 3-0 before a less spectacular single goal victory at struggling Ossett Town on Tuesday got them two thirds of the way to their manager's target. Foot of the table Durham City, without a point so far, stand in the way of Atkins' plea being answered in the affirmative.
"I said to the players before Saturday that I wanted nine points from the next three games, so two wins so far out of two means that we're two thirds of the way there, and I want us to go out now on Saturday and get another victory" said Atkins.
After losing their previous four league and cup matches, many observers expected seventh placed Kendal to provide tough opposition, but Matlock belied their third bottom position to fully merit their three goal win which saw Steve Warne, Nathan Joynes and Ross Hannah on the scoresheet.
"We totally dominated the game, every one of our players was on their game. We'd worked on things in the week in training such as closing down the opposition more effectively and the lads did everything exactly how we wanted. We could possibly have killed the game off earlier with Ross' two chances but he kept his head and got us that third goal. Everyone was on song, all of the players deserve a lot of credit" Atkins continued.
The Town chief labelled Tuesday's trip to Oseett as Matlock's "biggest game of the season." They got a dream start when Joynes scored in only 4 minutes which could, and possibly should have led to the floodgates opening.
"That win has put us up further in the league and also further away from Ossett so it was a massive, massive game. The early goal gave us a reat start and we began well football wise having probably 75% of the play in the first half. We spoke of the danger we faced during the half time break in that Ossett wouldn't sit off us as much in the second half. We had to turn them round a bit quicker and actually we created more chances in the second half while not playing as well. Their goalkeeper's made three fantastic saves. Our lads have really pulled their socks up after those four losses and done fantastically well."
Atkins admits that shortage of numbers in the squad at present is causing him some concern, but he is also equally aware that the financial security of the club cannot be compromised.
"I'm a bit worried that we're light on players, but with the current financial situation and the off field developments we may have to stick with the lads we have. I know of some lads I'd like to bring in who we could probably get at short notice, but I'm not prepared to put the club at any unnecessary risk moneywise, the football club's security has got to be paramount."
Atkins was also quick to praise the spirit in the dressing room, borne out by two players turning down moves away from Causeway Lane and Atkins' assistant Mark Haran playing on through a tough pain barrier for nearly eighty minutes against Kendal.
"Garforth Town put seven days in on Nathan Joynes and Glapwell the seven days in for Dene Cropper" Atkins explained. "But Nathan had no hesitation in saying he wants to stay here and he's actually played his best football for us in the last two games which has made a massive difference to us. I always tell players of such approaches and when I spoke to Dene he said he would stop if I wanted him to. I said yes I did and that was the end of it. The players are showing a great level of commitment and are all pulling in the right direction. We may be low on bodies but we're high in spirit."
Haran revealed that an X Ray on Monday had not revealed a broken bone in his leg after a top notch block tackle in only the 10th minute of the Kendal win had seen him require treatment.
"I was determined to stay on the pitch and see the match through even though I'd got no feeling in my leg" said Haran. "Although there's no break, the doctors at the hospital said I'd damaged the nerve ends which can be as bad as a break and explains the lack of feeling and the pins and needles. With James Lukic back on Tuesday, there was no point in me starting, but I went on the bench and if I had been forced to play I would have done. I'd have taken the painkillers and gone out there and done my best."
"Going on the bench at Ossett is great credit to him and he reckons he'll be available on Saturday if needed which is great news" Atkins added before stressing that Matlock must not take Durham lightly.
Three more points this weekend will give Matlock their first league double of the season after a 4-0 win in the North East in August, but Atkins says Matlock's attitude has got to be right.
"Everyone in the league and in the country knows about Durham's position having read about them in the national press, and they'll be looking and wanting them to get something from their next game. We musn't be that team that gives them their first point or first win. If we go into the match with a good attitude then we'll win, have a bad attitude then we could lose. Our home form has been good recently so I'm expecting three points."
Cropper limped off at the end of the Ossett game in spite of being on the pitch for little over a minute, having aggravated his troublesome knee. He is likely to be doubtful for the Durham game but Matlock should be able to include fellow striker Nathan Benger who was out on Tuesday through illness. Ben Algar serves the last of his three game ban but will be available again on Tuesday night when Matlock host New Mills in the Derbyshire Senior Cup semi final.
The Millers are currently third in the Vodkat North West Counties League Premier Division and would normally be well placed for an assault on the title. But table topping Newcastle Town have won every one of their twenty six games played and are an incredible thirty one points better off than New Mills.
A 2-0 home defeat by Norton and Stockton Ancients brought their FA Vase campaign to a premature close in the last sixteen, so the Senior Cup is now one of just two opportunities left for them to win some silverware.
"I'm expecting a tough tie for they gave us a very good game up there in pre season" Atkins warned. "But we're at home and it's a great chance for the players to progress to a cup final and to get to a final is a marvellous feeling for the players. Having lost in the final last season, I'm sure everyone will want the chance to go one step further and obviously if we can get past New Mills then we've got that opportunity."
Tuesday night's other semi final sees Ilkeston take on Belper at The New Manor Ground with the final provisionally arranged for Tuesday April 20 at either Pride Park or Saltergate.
Atkins and Matlock officials are hoping for an increased gate for the Durham and New Mills matches after only a disappointing 240 people turned up for the Kendal fixture.
"We could do with a good few more people through the gate, especially after the lack of home games recently. Bills still have to be paid and gates of 240 are not big enough if we want the club to progress" said a Matlock spokesman. "We'd like to thank those who came on Saturday and hope that those missing fans will be back against Durham and New Mills and for the rest of the season."
Atkins said the size of the crowd was the one disappointment on Saturday.
"It was a great game, we played ever so well and it's a pity there wasn't more Matlock fans there to see it. We all appreciate the support the fans give us, and the more people we have behind us the better."
