Two Matlock Town defeats this week don't tell the whole story according to joint bosses Gareth Williams and Phil Brown.
Williams believes someone must have killed a robin or walked under a ladder, or both, as lady luck transpired against them in both fixtures.
Last Saturday saw former Football League outfit Boston United do a smash and grab raid on the Gladiators, leaving Causeway Lane with a 2-0 victory, having been outplayed by Town in the opening twenty odd minutes. By the time Jon Rowan scored in the 23rd minute, the Pilgrims could easily have been four goals down.
Then on Tuesday Matlock went down 4-0 at high flying Hednesford in spite of playing the better football and being in the ascendancy for sustained periods. However controversial refereeing decisions from Tamworth's Simon Barrow went against Matlock, who for the second successive game, finished with ten men as Ryan Laight was harshly sent off in the 40th minute, to add to Ross Hannah's dismissal shortly before the interval against Boston.
"I know this might sound daft after two defeats, and one being 4-0, but we've played some great entertaining football" Brown insisted.
"Against Boston the game should have been over after half an hour. Simon's (Barraclough) hit the post and we've missed three or four really great chances with their goalkeeper being man of the match for some brilliant saves. Then the first shot they have flies into the top corner and then we have Ross sent off. I've got no qualms about the sending off as Ross has been up front and admitted he kicked out at the lad, but the circumstances behind it are disappointing. Their lad's been poking him in the chest, back and even in the privates. The two officials nearest the incident haven't seen it but the linesmen furthest away has seen the retaliation but not the first incident. Although we didn't look as if we could save the game at 2-0 down, the lads battled hard, showed a lot of spirit and kept at it, so credit to them."
In spite of Tuesday's 4-0 loss, Brown believes that the tide will soon turn for his side.
"We knew we were in for a difficult game for they play it direct and are a big side.We aren't the biggest at the moment so we knew we had to play a quick, passing game and we did just that. As daft as it sounds we were far the better team".
However optimistic Brown is that Matlock will bounce back, he admits that the defensive frailties have to be resolved.
"The first goal on Tuesday was a really soft one to let in and it seems we're being punished for every mistake we're making at present.But really we've got to be more ruthless at both ends. Defensively we need to tighten up, put the foot through the ball and be stronger and concentrate more. We should have had two penalties in the first half and I don't really want to comment too much on Ryan Laight's sending off except to say it was avery very poor decision. As for the attack we've created chances galore and this encourages us as someone surely is going to be on the end of a hiding sooner or later."
Matlock are hoping to sign another defender before Saturday's crunch home clash with Cammell Laird. The Birkenhead club won automatic promotion from the UniBond First Division South after finishing runners up to Retford United who stayed down due to their ground not receiving the required grading. They have won just one of their opening eight matches, at home to FC United of Manchester and are presently second bottom. Matlock lie in 17th spot, four points ahead of the Lairds,so Saturday would be a good time for Matlock to regain that winning feeling.
"We're hoping to have a defender in for Saturday especially as Ryan Laight now has a ban coming up. Ashley Foyle's got knee and ankle problems and we know we're thin on defenders so we really need to strengthen there. Like Cammell Laird we're down at the wrong end of the table but our performances are giving us a lot of confidence for the near future and beyond. We've a good young squad at Matlock and that's a good thing as the club can benefit for years to come. We know we've got to get it together defensively and not concede stupid goals but this side are creating lots of chances so we're confident that we've got lots of goals in us."
Brown revealed that Hannah had apologised to everyone at the club after his sending off.
"He's just a young lad so we hope that he'll learn from this. The lad was distraught at half time and afterwards."
Laight thought he had been hard done by, a view shared by many fens who travelled to Hednesford.
"He's leant on me and we both just went down, so I think he's played for it" said Laight. "I couldn't believe it when the ref showed the red card, especially with him going away from goal as it wasn't a goalscoring opportunity."
Both players will be available to face Cammell Laird with suspensions beginning approximately a fortnight after the offence.Foyle, along with Lee Featherstone (hand) and Simon Barraclough (cut ankle from the challenge for the second penalty appeal at Hednesford), should also feature, but Jamie Jackson is expected to again miss out with ankle trouble.
Meanwhile left winger Paul Riley was due to have a knee operation yesterday (Wednesday) before knowing a more accurate date for his return to action.
Ian Richardson
