Matlock boss Mark Atkins is a satisfied man after the Gladiators collected a win and a defeat from two challenging UniBond Premier Division matches.
His side was handed a tough start with a trip to last season's fourth placed club and League Cup winners Guiseley, followed by a home meeting with King's Lynn on Tuesday night. The Norfolk side were relegated from Bluequre North due to ground grading issues.
Matlock more than held their own until Guiseley broke the deadlock on 52 minutes, before netting late on to record a 2-0 win. But Matlock bounced back to inflict another hammer blow on the Linnets who are wanting to jump straight back up to from whence they came at the first time of asking.
Lynn, beaten 3-1 at home by newly promoted Stocksbridge Park Steels on Satuirday, then lost 3-2 at Causeway Lane, to give Atkins' Gladiators their first points of the campaign.
"Overall I'm very happy with the two performances" said Atkins. "I was very pleased with the way we played in the first half at Guiseley and we'd have been a goal up at half time but for a brilliant save from their goalkeeper. But I wasn't that happy with us in the second half. Unfortunately whoever scored first looked favourites to win and that was Guiseley. I was very disappointed with us defensively for that first goal and after that we struggled a bit. But Ithought we did well towards the end and their second goal came with us pushing forward with Mark Haran up there.You could say I was disappointed but not downhearted during the weekend.
Atkins, an industrious midfielder in the Blackburn Rovers side which were Premier League champions in 1994/95, clearly appreciates hard work, and he praised this quality in both games.
"We showed a lot of passion for three quarters of the games, it's a pity we weren't so switched on, particularly when they scored their first goal on Saturday. But Tuesday's game was probably the best since I came here. It was a pity it was spoilt by the referee. But I'm more concerned with our desire and our application, which in that second half especially was outstanding."
The midweek results, except for Whitby v Guiseley and Worksop v Nantwich, who played last night (Wednesday), left Atkins' troops in 12th spot ahead of this weekend's visit from North Ferriby which is followed by a trip over the Nottinghamshire border to Hucknall on Tuesday night.
"These will be two more tough games" reckoned Atkins. Ferriby followed an opening day last gasp defeat at home to Marine with a 1-1 draw against Retford on Tuesday.Hucknall beat Ossett Town convincingly last weekend but lost 2-0 at Burscough three days later
"North Ferriby were one of the best sides I saw last year and they've kept just about all of their players, so we'll expect another tough test on Saturday. We don't know over nuch about Hucknall, but if we can keep showing the workrate paricularly from the King's Lynn game, then I think we'll be okay. Both of the sides we've played should be up there at the end of the season and are good sides. But I'm absolutely delighted to have beaten a side of the calibre of King's Lynn, who I say again will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season".
Matlock have had to do without former skipper James Lukic in the two openers.
"We're keeping an eye on James but we're hoping he can train on Thursday" commented Atkins who revealed that injuries might rule who is selected in cental defence.
"As I've said we're keeping a close watch on James Lukic and Mark Haran took a knock in the scramble for our third goal. Ryan Laight passed a test on a groin injury before Tuesday's game and Adam Yates missed the King's Lynn match due to personal circumstances. But I'm hoping they'll all be ok for the weekend."
Two strikers who featured in Town's pre season programme were amongst the opening day goalscorers as a Danny Davidson brace gave Boston United a 2-1 win m the match of the day at FC United of Manchester while Nathan Benger came off the bench to score a late consolation in Glapwell.s UniBond First Division South trip hall Olympic. Matlock have also released Ian Clarke to Retford United, while trialist defender Lee Straaford, formerly with Ossett Town, Frickley Athletic and Belper Town, has joined Town from Bradford (Park Avenue).
Off the pitch, Town fans are arranging future fundraising schemes to aid the construction of the new stand and Social Club on the Dene Fields side of the ground. A major event is a Golf Day to be held at Grassmoor Golf Club near Chesterfield on Friday 25 September.
Organiser Alan Marsden is already happy with the reponse eceived in less than a week's worth of advertising, but wants other players to join in to make it a major event in the football club's calendar
"I've got 52 players so far which is a magnificent effort, Also, the Maazi Restaurant in Matlock are sponsoring the event and we're also getting a lot of hrelp from local football team Laburnum FC. The Duke William pub are also sponsoring the nearest pin competition with a three course meal for two on offer. Presentations will be made at the Laburnum Inn at Hackney during the evening of 25 September when a buffet will be laid on and other fundraising events held. If you want to play in the tournament, it costs £100 for a team of four or £25 per person to be allocated a team on the day. To enter e mail me at
alan.marsden@sky.com or see me behind the bar on matchdays."
This season's FA Cup competition got under way last weekend with the extra preliminary round seing Sleaford Town beat Loughborough University in Lincolnshire. Sleaford now host Stamford with the winners due at Causeway Lane on Saturday 12 September in the First Qualifying Round, Matlock's FA Trophy opponents are more clear cut with the Gladiators entertaining Loughborough Dynamo on in October.
