Boss Mark Atkins wants his Matlock Town side to concentrate on one game at a time after Monday's draw for the 1st Round Proper of the FA Carlsberg Trophy gave them the chance of a plum tie.
If the Gladiators can overcome Witton Albion in their 3rd Qualifying Round replay, now set for Tuesday night after heavy rain put off last Tuesday's scheduled rematch, they will be at home to Blue Square National high flyers and once former winners and three times beaten finalists Kidderminster Harriers on December 12.
But Atkins has stressed that valuable league points are at stake at second bottom Ossett Town on Saturday, and he is well aware of the challenge that Witton will present following the 1-1 draw in Cheshire on Saturday.
A late equaliser from Mark Haran extended the Gladiators unbeaten run in league and cup to eight matches after Brad Maylett's 22nd minute strike for Witton, plus a hat-trick of unwanted injury problems had seriously threatened to end that undefeated sequence.
By half time on Saturday both striker Dene Cropper (calf) and goalkeeper Adam Sollitt (ankle ligaments) had been stretchered off with central defender Simon Sturdy not reappearing after the interval with a recurrence of his ankle injury.
"I was pleased with the result in the end given the conditions which spoilt the game for both sides and having had to use all of our permitted substitutes before the second half had started" Atkins admitted. "Witton probably deserved to be in front at half time but the players battled tremendously well, we deserved the equaliser and we should have taken one or two chances which came our way to win the game."
It was doubtful whether any of the trio would have played had Tuesday's game been on. Cropper looks likely to be missing for anything between four to six weeks while both Sollitt and Sturdy must be rated extremely doubtful for the weekend and the replay. Atkins felt particularly sorry for Cropper who was in great form having netted in each of the last three Matlock games.
"Over the last three to four weeks he's been as fit as I've ever seen him. He's worked really hard and that has shown in his performances. He's played very well and he's shown that he's a big asset for us. It's a bad tear in his calf so it looks like he'll be missing for at least four and most probably six weeks."
Cropper's latest injury looks like giving latest signing Nathan Joynes a chance to impress on Saturday, although the new recruit is cup tied for FA Trophy matches. Atkins was tracking Joynes in the summer when Danny Davidson opted to join Boston United, but the 24 year old six footer decided to join Guiseley instead.
"When it became apparent we couldn't afford Danny, I tried to sign Nathan but Guiseley offered him a much better deal than we could. But we've kept tabs on him and we heard that he was wanting to move from Guiseley. When we were able to talk to him we offered him a deal which fits into our budget structure and we're delighted he's signed, particularly with Dene's injury and he'll be in contention for Saturday along with Stef Frost who was cup tied on Saturday."
Joynes began his career with Barnsley making just one first team appearance in six years although he had loan spells at Halifax Town, Bradford City and Boston United before leaving Oakwell to join FC Halifax Town in 2008. Atkins watched him playing for Stalybridge Celtic last season.
"He's a tall strong centre forward who will give us another option in attack. I liked what I saw from him at Stalybridge and I think he'll be a big asset for us. He hasn't played for four or five weeks though so he'll need to get match fit but the only way to do that is by playing games."
Atkins will know more about the condition of Sollitt and Sturdy at tonight's (Thursday's) training session, and it could be that a loan signing is brought in as cover.
"Simon went over on his ankle in the first half on Saturday and it got worse and worse. By Monday it was very swollen, so we're hoping that the swelling might go down before Saturday. Adam's anklle is also swollen but he's been in more pain than Simon so we're a bit worried about him so we'll need to chat with him and see which route we take. We've got the ideal replacement in Nick Buxton whose done very well for us but we might be looking at three to four weeks so we've got to look at all the options."
Scorer Haran replaced Sturdy and his goal was the first bit of good fortune enjoyed by Matlock in the tie, when they could have been forgiven for thinking that events were conspiring against them. Atkins was full of praise for one of his assistant managers, who has recently had to watch from the sidelines following Sturdy's arrival.
"Mark's come out of the team and understands why as Simon's come in and played exceptionally well alongside James Lukic. He's never moaned and he's got on with his coaching and managerial responsibilities showing a first class attitude, so full credit to him. He came on against Witton, played very well and then took his goal superbly."
Atkins will also be checking on the progress of Danny Wood and Ben Algar ahead of the Ossett trip while he expects both Steve Warne and Nathan Benger, who picked up minor knocks against Witton, to be available.
Ossett have certainly had the Indian sign over Matlock in recent meetings, having beaten the Gladiators on the last six occasions. But the Yorkshire side have lost their last four league matches, scoring just twice and conceding sixteen, and were knocked out of the UniBond League Challenge Cup by a 1-0 margin at home to Division One South promotion chasers Sheffield FC on Tuesday night.
"I've been told of our recent record against Ossett so we'll need to go there with the right attitude. Ossett do tend to play well at home, they're very used to their surroundings. But we want those three points, we have the ability in the side to get them, so we need to apply ourselves properly to the task in hand. We've got to focus on Ossett and when that's out of the way then on beating Witton. Before last Saturday's tie, we knew a possible carrot was a Conference Premier side. We got into the draw and that's the incentive on Tuesday. But I stress it's Ossett first, then Witton, and if we do our job properly, we'll stand a good chance of taking on Kidderminster."
Matlock have a home draw against Blue Square North play off chasing Alfreton Town on Tuesday December 15 in the quarter final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
