Its been two out and one in at the Geoquip Stadium this week.

 

Joining the Gladiators is 25 year old 5'10" striker Ben Kistell from Blue Square North outfit Hucknall Town, while leaving for pastures new are midfielder Curtis Shaw and striker Eugene Francis.

 

Kistell began his playing career with Sheffield FC before moving to Staveley Miners Welfare where last season he finished as top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions. Then after entering a competition on BBC Radio Sheffield, Kistell ventured out to New Zealand to play for Stop Out FC before returning to the British Isles to sign for Hucknall in October 2007 where he found his opportunities limited. Kistell, who can also operate in midfield, made most of his few Hucknall appearances from the substitutes bench, his final outing for the Yellows seeing him enter the fray with six minutes remaining in the 2-1 home defeat to Southport last Saturday.

 

"We're very hopeful he can do well for us" said joint boss Phil Brown. "We'd had good reports about him and he's done well in training. He's looked sharp, neat and tidy and got among the goals when he was at Staveley. It gives us another option up front. We're always looking at new things, different players and it was a good opportunity to take him on. We're always looking to strengthen and if the right player comes up in the right position and the budget is okay we'll strengthen."

 

Kistell is the second striker to join the Gladiators within three weeks after the return of Nathan Benger who left the Geoquip Stadium in the summer to join Spalding before moving to Stocksbridge Park Steels. And Matlock could have a whole host of forwards in the frame for selection for this weekend's trip to Guiseley.

 

Likely to start are Steve Taylor and Simon Barraclough, but Benger and Kistell could be vying for a chance to impress along with Laurence Hall, Dene Cropper and Jake Pidcock.

 

Having Cropper in contention again is a real boost for Matlock with the big striker having a purple patch in November hitting five goals in three matches before aggravating his knee injury in the 3-0 defeat at Whitby on December 1.

 

"Dene has done some running and will be back training again with the lads tonight (Thursday) with a view to being in the squad at Guiseley"  said Brown. "We're hoping Dene now gets an injury free run for he was looking good before his ;last little setback."

 

Shaw and particularly Francis have played bit parts in their short time at Matlock, although Shaw found the net twice, his first being a memorable strike on his debut in the 2-2 FA Trophy draw at Stamford.

 

"Curtis has told me he's going back to Hucknall and Eugene has joined Shepshed. They want to play football and we could not give them a regular game here. They go with our best wishes" said Brown.

 

Meanwhile there was relief all round last Saturday as Matlock secured their first win in two months and eight league and cup matches with a 3-1 home verdict against Prescot Cables, at the same time  recording their second league double of the season. Town had won 2-1 at Valerie Park back in September through goals from Gary Webster and Simon Barraclough and both were on target again.

 

Matlock dominated from the start and took a firm grip on the match which they never relinquished with goals from Webster on 4 minutes and James Lukic on 17. Then a Barraclough spot kick four minutes into the second half made it three before Cables managed a consolation effort from Ryan Wade. Brown was "very pleased" with both the performance and the result. 

 

"It felt really good to get the win playing some attractive football. We created a host of opportunities and scored some good goals. Although it would have been nice to have got a clean sheet, at least the goal we conceded wasn't from a set piece. There were a lot of positives to take from the game, some excellent individual performances in what was a very good all round team performance. We're hoping it's a starting point for us and that there's more to come"

 

While it was their first win in eight, Matlock have only lost one of the last five matches.

 

"Apart from the Buxton match we feel we're heading in the right direction" continued Brown. "We think we've turned the corner for things are more positive both on and off the field and if the budget allows, we'll be looking to bring in another one or two players."

 

A stern test of Matlock's credentials presents itself on Saturday at seventh placed Guiseley, who are one place and one  point better off than the Gladiators having played two games fewer. The Yorkshire side were fully expected to be title challengers this season under former Bradford City boss Terry Dolan but they fell away somewhat after a bright start to the campaign which saw them head the table. Dolan was sacked six weeks ago and replaced by Ossett Town manager Steve Kittrick. With Guiseley being the only side to grab a league double over the Gladiators last season, Matlock will be keen to redress the balance both this weekend and in the quick return at the Geoquip Stadium on February 12. Brown believes that if Matlock can maintain their encouraging form of the last two Saturdays, they will not return to Derbyshire empty handed.

 

"Guiseley have spent quite a bit of money, have a decent budget and brought a few players in. Expectations there are very high and they perhaps believe they should be at least in the play offs. But after our last two performances we think we can go there and get something" .

 

Matlock should be able to travel to Nethermoor virtually at full strength, with no new injury worries after the Prescot triumph. Ryan Davis reported no ill effects following his brief appearance, with Glenn Kirkwood being the only Gladiator looking certain to miss out.

 

One enforced change to the starting line up could see Matty Caudwell being recalled in place of Jamie Donnelly-Jackson whose second month's loan spell with Matlock came to an end after the Prescot game.

 

The pacy winger returned to Chesterfield for talks with Lee Richardson after a mixed spell at the Geoquip Stadium. He began encouragingly in the 2-0 win at Lincoln United on November 17 before a run of disappointing performances came to an end at Worksop Town a fortnight ago. Then he reserved his best display for his final game, constantly teasing and tormenting the Cables defenders, looking a real potent threat and exciting the home crowd.. It remains to be seen whether  Donnelly-Jackson returns to the Geoquip Stadium . Brown and Gareth Williams have to decide whether they could accommodate him for another spell month, and, if they decide they can, the  ball is currently in Chesterfield's court.