Matlock Town first choice goalkeeper Adam Sollitt faces an anxious battle against the clock in order to be fit for the Gladiators' opening Evo-Stik Premier Division game of the new season at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday week.
Sollitt was forced off with a back injury just twenty minutes into the 1-1 pre season friendly draw at Belper last weekend.
"He's struggling at the moment" admitted boss Mark Atkins on Thursday night. "It's a spasm and he's due to see someone tomorrow and hopefully then he'll be a little bit better. Obviously we'll not be including him in the squad this weekend, we'll just have to wait and see if he improves sufficiently to make the first game."
Atkins confirmed that if Sollitt does not make it, then goalkeeping coach and assistant manager Nick Buxton will play in goal.
"Adam's injury isn't long term so we've no plans to bring anyone in at this stage. Bucko did very well for us when called upon last season so I've every confidence that he'll do equally as well if needed now".
Sollitt's injury aside, the manager was pleased with what he saw at Christ Church Meadow. Striker Dene Cropper went between the posts for the remaining seventy minutes as a weakened Matlock side fought back from a half time deficit to level late on through Ben Algar.
"We rested a few lads but those who came in did well. We passed the ball quite well without being as progressive as we'd been in earlier games. We were never in any danger defensively, their one shot took a deflection for their goal. We created a few chances and should probably really have created a few more, but this was one of the best pre season games for me as we were able to give some new players sixty or even ninety minutes and I got to learn a great deal about them in a match situation."
One surprise name on the teamsheet was Kris Bowler who decided his future lies with Matlock after a telephone call to Atkins last Thursday, after a return to the Gladiators ranks appeared to have fallen through.
"Kris did very well, he was well in with the other lads, passing the ball well and working well within the team shape. Towards the end he walked away from a confrontation which was also heartening" said Atkins who was able to give striker Nathan Joynes a brief cameo appearance late on.
Joynes picked up a foot injury, thought at first to be a hairline fracture, in Matlock's first pre-season outing at Armthorpe on July 13.
"Nathan had no reaction after the ten or fifteen minutes we gave him at Belper and he's also trained twice this week. He's two or three weeks behind the other lads but at least he's on his way back."
Matlock play their final pre season game against Glapwell at Teversal FC on Sunday afternoon (3 pm) and fans will get their first glimpse of new signing Colin Marrison, an attacking player from Retford United. With central defensive partnership Mark Haran and James Lukic back off holiday, Atkins, with the exception of Adam Yates who ia away but back for the Stocksbridge clash, will probably field a side as close as possible to the one he wants to start against the Steels.
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