Matlock Town's perfect home record will be given a stern examination by a team with a remarkable 100% success rate in all competitions so far this season when Gateshead visit the Geoquip Stadium on Saturday. The Tynesiders were the form team in the UniBond Premier Division towards the end of last term as under manager Ian Bogie, they have yet to lose, their last defeat coming at eventual champions Burscough back on March 3.

And the task facing the Gladiators is emphasised with Gateshead smashing in twenty four goals in their six league games so far, as well as hitting Selby Town for six in the FA Cup at the International Stadium last weekend. So fifth placed Matlock, who lie three points behind their opponents having played a game more, know that they will need to be on top of their game to maintain their impressive home form, but joint boss Phil Brown says it is a challenge his players should relish.
"It'll be tough but it's a good game for us to have" Brown insisted. "They're unbeaten under Ian Bogie and are flying scoring lots of goals but it'll be a measure of how far we've come and we're looking forward to it."

Brown says that Matlock will not have any specific plans to curb the Tynesiders' scoring threat.
"We know some of the threats they have but we'll go into the match confident in our own game. We mustn't worry about the opposition too much for it's important that we concentrate on what makes us tick and do things properly."

The Gladiators players were given a night off training on Tuesday with there being no midweek game, but are due back tonight to prepare for Saturday's match of the day in the UniBond Premier Division. They have some minor injury niggles with striker Simon Barraclough coming off with a knock fifteen minutes from time in last Saturday's 4-2 FA Cup win at Carlton Town. Paul Riley's knee was sore again after playing for sixty five minutes in the same game while Ryan Davis played on with a foot injury, but all three are expected to be fit for the Gateshead clash. Laurence Hall, who can operate as either a central defender or striker, will also be back in
the frame after missing the last four games through holiday and suspension, and Dene Cropper may also win a place on the bench after managing twelve minutes action at Carlton.

Brown also revealed that the Gladiators have put in seven days notice of approach on a new player. He would not reveal the player's identity and was hopeful that once the seven days have elapsed, he could be given consent to speak to his target and get his man. After taking on high flying Gateshead, Matlock's league campaign then takes them to struggling Frickley Athletic on Tuesday night. The South Elmsall side have this week lost their manager, former Matlock skipper Billy Heath, who resigned with the Blues only being kept off the bottom of the division on goal difference by North Ferriby United, and without a win as well as being dumped out of the FA Cup following a 2-1 home defeat to UniBond First Division South Stocksbridge Park Steels.

But despite Frickley's poor start to the campaign, Brown is wary of the trip to Westfield Lane.
"Frickley's always a difficult place to go to and it'll be more so now the manager's gone as their players will be keen to impress any prospective new bosses who may be watching. We also under performed there last season when our long unbeaten run came to an end, so although most people will be expecting us to go there and get a win, it'll be a very tough game."
Town will be without both Glenn Kirkwood who begins a three game ban, and goalkeeper Andy Richmond will also watch from the sidelines serving a one match ban after being dismissed in the 2-0 defeat at Witton Albion last Tuesday week. Martin Taylor, signed from Worksop Town in the summer, is expected to deputise between the sticks.

Matlock earned £2,250 from sponsors E-On for their FA Cup win at Carlton. After a scoreless first period, the Gladiators took a firm grip on the tie, racing into a 4-0 lead by the 59th minute, thanks to a Steve Taylor hat trick and a single from Simon Barraclough. Slack defending allowed the Nottingham side to score twice to make the scoreline respectable, but on the whole, Brown was happy with the performance.
"We knew they'd be up for it and we did a good job in the first half to nullify their threat and we created some decent openings of our own. We were a little concerned that it was only 0-0 at half time but then we played some good stuff to establish a four goal lead. Steve Taylor's come back from his injury and has hit six goals now and Simon Barraclough's also got five and they're looking dangerous now and long may it continue. We're delighted for Steve who worked hard in pre season and since he's been back in the side. At 4-1 up we then got sloppy and the state of the game
probably contributed to the poor second goal we conceded at the end. It'd probably have been different if it was against a side in our league."

Matlock's reward is a mouth watering home clash against AFC Telford United, who won the UniBond Premier Division play off final against Witton Albion in May to earn promotion to the Blue Square North League. But the Gladiators can approach the tie safe in the knowledge that Telford failed to win at the Geoquip Stadium in either of their two league visits so far. Two seasons ago an Ian Clarke penalty cancelled out Greg Challender's opener, while last season, Matlock became the first side to defeat the Bucks in the league on their travels.

A 25th minute own goal from Indy Khela put the Gladiators in front only for Lee Vaughan to equalise shortly afterwards. Kris Bowler cracked in the decider from the penalty spot four minutes from time in an incident which also saw Khela dismissed. Last February's clash attracted Matlock's highest crowd of the season, 806, and Matlock will be hoping to better that figure in next weekend's cup tie.
"It'll be difficult for they were strong last year and having spent in the summer they'll be stronger. There'll be a good crowd which will be good for the club in terms of revenue and we're expecting a proper cup tie. We're also glad to be through with so many UniBond Premier clubs going out last weekend" Brown added.