Matlock boss Mark Atkins was probably expecting more than just a point from clashes with North Ferriby and Hucknall this week, but the silver lining has come with goalkeeper Adam Sollitt rejecting a move to Blue Square North Eastwood Town, plus the signing of exciting former Chesterfield left winger Ben Algar.
Eastwood put the required seven days notice of approach on Sollitt to Matlock last week after injury ruled out their first choice custodian Ian Deakin. Their number two Alex Goddard had been loaned out as he was considered not quite ready for Blue Square North football, and although Badgers boss moved quickly to bring in former Alfreton and Retford goalkeeper Ross Turner, Sollitt was top of manager Paul Cox's shopping list, having played with the Eastwood boss at Kettering Town.
Sollitt, a 32 year old former England non league international, joined Matlock during the pre season build up from Gainsborough Trinity after Paul Pettinger sustained a knee injury that may require surgery. He says he is happy to stay at Causeway Lane.
"The long and the short of it is that I'd rather play for Mark Atkins" said Sollitt. "To his credit he was straight up with me when Eastwood came in and that impressed me. Having Mark Haran here is another influence on my decision and in fact we've got a great set of lads here and I'm enjoying it here which is the most important thing. I'm one of those players who looks at the manager's influence on both me and the team. I like Mark Atkins and want to play for him and for Matlock Town."
Atkins was both relieved and delighted with the news.
"I'm very pleased he's decided to stay at the club for he's a top quality goalkeeper. We've managed to hold off Eastwood and that's a feather in our cap for it shows that some players are not in the game just for the money. We've a lot of spirit in a very happy squad. He's come in and it's as if he's been here for years. The grass isn't always greener on the other side."
Pettinger is fast becoming a popular figure with the fans and joining him could soon be new signing Ben Algar, if his debut at Hucknall on Tuesday night is anything to go by.
The 20 year old was released by Chesterfield at the end of last season and went to Mansfield Town for trials in a bid to stay full time.
He quickly settled into the Town line up at Watnall Road and made a highly impressive start. He could just prove to be the answer in providing the Gladiators with width and extra pace to their attacks.
"I'd been tracking Ben since the end of last season when I got word he was being released by Chesterfield" said Atkins. "I'd heard plenty of good reports about him from my ex Blackburn pal Scott Sellars who was at Chesterfield. He wanted to stay full time but things haven't worked out for him in that respect. He got in touch with us so I invited him down and saw enough in thirty or forty minutes in training last Thursday to get him signed on and he was excellent down at Hucknall. We've been lacking a bit of width and good wing play. Ben, as we saw, wants to take players on at pace and get in good crosses. The left flank has been a problem position for us and if Ben carries on as he's started he could be the lad to solve it for us."
After the exciting 3-2 home win against fancied King's Lynn last week, the drab 1-0 home defeat to North Ferriby United was something of a let down to Atkins and fans alike.
"It was like chalk and cheese comparing our second half performance against King's Lynn to how we were on Saturday" moaned Atkins. "After the win we were looking to push on and work our way up the table but that display on Saturday was totally different. There was no life in us, no desire, no workrate, which is unacceptable. You just can't do that and expect to win games, against whoever you play. I suppose on the plus side we created two great chances in the first half, and if just one had gone in, it would have changed the game. But then we conceded a bad goal. If we'd have defended properly, we'd have got a 0-0 out of it."
Atkins made a couple of significant changes for the Hucknall trip which ended in a 2-2 draw after the Gladiators had led 2-0 inside the first twenty minutes through a Mark Haran spot kick and a Ross Hannah penalty, both marksmen notching their second goals of the season.
Former skipper James Lukic returned for his first competitive outing since his move back from Gainsborough at the expense of Ryan Laight to lead the side, while present captain Steve Warne was perhaps surprisingly relegated to the bench as Algar made his bow.
Atkins was far more satisfied with his troops at Watnall Road.
"The workrate and the desire were both fantastic. We needed a reaction and we got one. I was pleased with our performance against probably the best side we've met so far. Okay to be 2-0 up and not win is disappointing, but I think they'll turn a fair few teams over this season".
Results so far leave Matlock in 15th spot with four points from four games and they will be looking to improve on that record when they make their first ever visit to Durham City on Saturday.
Durham though, have been beset by unexpected problems off the pitch and on. They were promoted in the spring after winning the First Division North title and were expected to do well this term. So far though they are pointless and bottom after four games and received unwelcome bad news when the Football Conference ruled that they would not be eligible for promotion to the Blue Square North if they finished high enough, due to their 3G artificial surface. Since this decision has been made, their major sponsor has pulled out resulting in financial restraints and a major exodus of players, their team now being made up mostly of local teenagers, apart from prolific experienced striker Paul Brayson who has scored all of their three goals so far. Whether Brayson will remain at Durham though, remains to be seen as there are rumours of both Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor United showing an interest in him.
Durham's situation is similar to that of Leigh Genesis last season. Atkins didn't take victory over Leigh for granted then and he says the same ahead of Saturday.
"Whatever team they put out will be playing for Durham, they'll be keen to do well so we've got to put a performance in, go there and do a job. I'll be stressing to the lads time and again ahead of Saturday that we've got to show the same attitude and determination we showed against Hucknall and if we do that we'll take points from most teams. As for the artificial pitch well we've trained on one quite a bit so we'll go there in a positive frame of mind, looking for the three points, but mindful that we must show the desire and commitment we had on Tuesday."
Matlock return home to face Nantwich Town at Causeway Lane on Monday night (7.45 pm). Danny Wood must be considered doubtful after coming off after just 12 minutes with a groin injury at Hucknall. The Gladiators piocked up another couple of niggles which should be clear by the weekend. Lukic reported no ill effects from his first game back after tendonitis in his knee, apart from "puffing a bit towards the end."
Atkins has also confirmed the position relating to Ian Clarke after the midfielder joined Retford United on the eve of the new campaign. Clarke, who suffered a bad knee injury playing for Matlock against Prescot Cables in April 2006, made a shock return to the club last March. Atkins wanted him to stay at Causeway Lane this season.
"Ian was offered a deal by us for this season which he didn't take. He didn't sign for us for this season, instead he decided to go to Retford."
Matlock will be looking closely at this weekend's FA Cup Preliminary Round ties, and particularly the game at Sleaford which sees the United Counties League outfit entertain UniBond First Division South Stamford. The winners will travel to face Matlock in the First Qualifying Round on Saturday September 12. Sleaford reached this round with a 2-0 home victory over Loughborough University.
Town's scheduled UniBond League visit to Kendal Town on Tuesday October 6 has been put back to the provisional date of Saturday 13 March after talks between the two clubs and the League.
