Having conceded a mammoth ten goals in their last two away matches, it will be a question of whether lessons have been learned by Matlock Town as they face three important and demanding trips in the next week.
Their immediate aim must be to move out of the relegation places and to do that they must be looking to take at the very least ,three points from their trips to Whitby on Saturday and to Ilkeston to face Worksop Town on Wednesday night. Then next weekend the Gladiators have a tough test in the FA Trophy at Zamaretto (Southern) League Premier Division promotion chasers Cambridge City.
Matlock's recent away form has been alarming, for after unluckily bowing out of the FA Cup in extra time at Bury Town, they were then thrashed 5-2 at Bradford Park Avenue and 5-1 at King's Lynn.
But boss Mark Atkins is encouraged by the improvement at the back in their two games since King's Lynn, a 1-0 home defeat to Retford United and then the Gladiators' first home Saturday win of the campaign, 2-1 against UniBond First Division South Loughborough Dynamo to earn the Trophy trip to Cambridge.
"In the two games where we let in five. the individual defensive play was plainly not good enough" Atkins stressed. "One on ones were not dealt with along with set plays against us. But in the last two games I've really been quite pleased with the back four. There's been the odd blip but maybe the opposition have had just three chances in those two games. So we will approach these games in a positive frame of mind that we're going to keep teams out and it's all about defending as a team and better as individuals."
Three successive league defeats have seen Town plunge to second bottom in what is still a very tight division. Whitby are just three places higher and three points better off than Matlock, while Worksop are in mid table, six points in front of the Gladiators, who have played a game less. so the importance of collecting points from these two games cannot be under estimated.
Atkins, though, is also looking for an improvement at the other end of the park. Matlock should have been more convincing winners against Loughborough. They missed some gilt edged chances in the first half before Nathan Benger headed them in front for their only goal before the half time whistle. Then Loughborough notched a surprise equaliser before Matlock regained the initiative. A succession of fine saves from Dynamo goalkeeper Matt Nurse denied Matlock before a 75th minute fre kick from substitute Gareth Davies booked their place in the next round. Even then though, there was a scare as goalkeeper Adam Sollitt handled outside his penalty box and was red carded, meaning he will miss the Cambridge tie through a one match suspension.
"We started very well against Loughborough. We dominated the first half and missed two great chances, had a blatant penalty turned down before Nathan headed a good goal from Ben Algar's cross. We were so much on top and it was perhaps hard to sustain that into the second half. The focus at half time was on us starting again as we'd left off but one long ball caught us out although their lad tucked away the chance very well. We then had a spell when we weren't as effective as I would have liked but we came strong again and their keeper's made four or five quality saves. But Gaz's put that great free kick in and we were playing really well again at that stage. The incident with Adam Sollitt at the end coul;d have cost us the game but it also showed that we've got to start taking the chances we're creating. We've got to be more clinical in front of goal."
That will certainly have to be the case at Cambridge if Matlock are to add another £3000 to the £2300 they earned for victory over Loughborough. The Lilywhites only defeat so far this season was a 5-0 hammering at home to Blue Square North Hinckley United in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the F A Cup. They have won four and drawn the other six of their league games,scoring sixteen goals but conceding only eight.
"Its a tough draw and they play in a tough league. Bury were in the division below and were a good, organised side. Cambridge City is always a tough place to go to, I can remember that having been there with Stalybridge. But on our day we're good enough to give anyone a good game and we'll go down there in that frame of mind."
Atkins has no plans to bring in another goalkeeper with Sollitt out of the equation for the tie.
"Nick Buxton will play, he'll do a good job and has been training well with Adam all season" said Atkins.
Meanwhile Atkins has praised midfielder Matty Thorpe in the wake of his move to Sheffield FC late last week.
"Sheffield put seven days in for Matty and he decided to go and give it a go there. I'm very disappointed to lose him for he's been an excellent member of the squad, training well and he's always been there when needed, he's never let us down" explained Atkins. "But he was one of our lower paid players and he wanted regular first team football which unforunately I couldn't guarantee him. He'll get more of a chance of that with Sheffield and probably earn a few more quid as well. He goes with my best wishes and I've said to him that I'd have him back tomorrow if things don't work out for him there."
Atkins also confirmed that he had heard nothing further from winger Jamie Jackson since asking him to contact him prior to the Retford home game, having asked him to stay away from the previous game at King's Lynn, due to his recent "poor attitude."
The boss though, will be acutely aware that he currently has a small squad, and he admitted the need to strengthen it.
"I've put seven days notice in on two players and hope to be able to speak to them after the weekend. I've also made enquiries about three others which at the moment are in their clubs' hands. While its unlikely there'll be anyone new here for this weekend, I'd like to think that I've got at least one in for next Wednesday's game. We want to strengthen in a couple of positions but they do need to be the right players, not just anyone" he warned.
Matlock have no fresh injury problems and having had a free midweek, striker Dene Cropper, who failed a fitness test on his knee prior to kick off last weekend, will be hoping he will br ready for Whitby.
The Gladiators have been given a home draw against UniBond First Division South newcomers Mickleover Sports in the 2nd Round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup. The tie is scheduled for Tuesday November 17.
