Bouncebackability was the name of the game for the Gladiators who fought back with purpose to earn four points out of six in their August Bank Holiday programme.
Matlock had lost 4-0 at home to Bradford Park Avenue in their second game of the new season after a late equaliser had seen FC United of Manchester earn a point in a 3-3 draw at Gigg Lane in the opener.
But Matlock beat Whitby 2-0 at Causeway Lane on Saturday before top of the table Guiseley's 100% record was pierced by the Gladiators who fully deserved their 1-1 draw,
"The Bradford Park Avenue result was disappointing as it was no way a four-niller" said joint boss Phil Brown who could then scarcely hide his delight after the turnaround over the Bank Holiday.
"But to get four points and be coming away from the league leaders ground disappointed not to have won is teastament to the reaction of our players.Some people might call me greedy but I thought we were worth six points. We beat Whitby despite not being at our best. In fact I'd say that was our least effective performance of the season so far yet vwe got the three points. From a defensive point of view, the Guiseley performance as our best for we did an awful lot of things right up there. It's taken 48 minutes for them to really rtrouble us when they had their first shot and apart from the goal and Andy Richmond's great save late on we've looked extremely comfortable."
It wasn't just a case of holding on for the point as with a little more luck, the Gladiators might even have won.
"We've created a fair few good chances and that looked a stonewall penalty just before half toime when Jamie Jackson was being both pushed and had his shirt tugged. People will tell you that these sort of decisions even themselves out over a season so we sincerely hope this is the case. Then late on Liam King's brilliant free kick struck the underside of the bar and bounced clear. But pleasing from our point of view was the workrate of the whole side against a side who'd hit six at prescot and had won all of their games up to then."
Striker Ross Hannah scored both Matlock goals in the 2-0 verdict against Whitby to take his season's total to four but was forced to sit out the trip to Guiseley with shoulder trouble.
"Ross could probably have played but it was a risk and with so many games coming up in such a short period of time, we thought it'd be best if he had a rest" explained Brown.
Hannah's absence made team selection at Guiseley that little bit easier, particularly as Brown and Gareth Williams opted to switch to a 4-4-2 formation after the change in tactics had paved trhe way to Matlock coming out on top against the Seasiders.
"Ross not being fit made our decision that much easier" Brown continued. "What's been good is that we played well playing at FC United with the 4-3-3 formation and then here at Guiseley we were equally efficient with the 4-4-2. It's great to have flexibility with team selection and be able to play different ways against different teams. Guiseley ws a really good performance as was that at FC United and the pluses we have are that we have absolutely no qualms about sticking anyone in as we've people like Gary Webster, Matty Thorpe and Nathan Benger who have come on and given their all and they don't look out of place.Steve Warne's our third oldest player at 24 and that bodes extremely well for the future as this team will improve as it plays more together. So we feel there's quite exciting times ahead for us."
Midfield was a problem area as the Gladiators diced with the threat of relegation towards the end of the 2007/08 campaign but after recruiting Rotherham United youngsters Liam King and Simon Harrison, plus the return of Steve Warne from Alfreton Town, there is more solidity in the engine room now.
"We've strengthened the midfield like we definitely had to and we've got players now with the ability to "rat" and pass the ball about now so it's a good mix" said Williams.
Attention now turns to Saturday's trip to Ashton United and Tuesday night's home meeting with Eastwood Town as the Gladiators aim to build on the form and results of their laqst two unbeaten matches.
"Ashton have become something of a bogy side for us. We never seem to do well against them (Matlock have not beaten the Robins in their last six league encounters and Ashton inflicted a league double over Matlock last term) so now is as good a time as any to put things right."
Ashton collected six out of six points over the weekend. An impressive 1-0 win at Boston United was followed by a fine 4-1 home win against Buxton which sees them up in eighth spot, two points better off than the 14th placed Gladiators.
As for Eastwood, they were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at Kendal but four goals from ex Matlock striker Ian Holmes saw them thrash North Ferriby United at Coronation Park on Monday.
"We know Eastwood's strengths. They've spent some big money and will be a danger to us. We know only too well what a threat one particular player can be to us but like as at Guiseley we'll go in there, work hard and hope we can play the football which will lead to us getting the three points" said Brown.
Hannah is hopeful of a return on Saturday at Hurst Cross and fellow attackers Jackson and Cropper should also be fit having left the field at Nethermoor through an ankle injury and a dead leg respectively.
Ian Richardson
