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Joint boss Phil Brown is hoping that Matlock Town have finally turned the corner as they look ahead to a busy March which sees them play all but three of their remaining UniBond League Premier Division games.

Saturday's short trip to Derbyshire rivals Ilkeston Town is their third successive local derby, following matches against Leek Town and Eastwood Town on the previous two weekends which yielded an encouraging four points and two clean sheets.

And Matlock thoroughly deserved the three points in last Saturday's lunchtime kick off at home to the Badgers which came courtesy of an 83rd minute free kick from Ben Kistell, which earned the Gladiators their third league double of the campaign, following a 3-2 victory at Coronation Park in October.

Brown was full of praise for his squad and in particular former Chesterfield goalkeeper Andy Richmond who was recalled to the starting line up having been rested in favour of Martin Taylor for the previous three matches.

"We deserved it. It was a good second half performance when we dominated the game, and another clean sheet was also very encouraging. We defended very well against their route one tactics and Andy Richmond behind them came back in and had a very good game. There was a lot coming into the box and he dealt with it very well, We're all very pleased for him for he's worked extremely hard while he's been out of the team and he came back in and had an excellent game."

Eastwood cerrtainly did not look like a side bidding for a play off spot, but they can have few complaints about their first defeat in seven games. For the Gladiators it was a first win in six and an end to a scoring drought at the fourth time of asking. Brown said he was not altogether sure that the breakthrough would come in spite of all the pressure from the Gladiators.

"In that type of situation you just hope that you get one or two more chances and luckily we struck from Ben's free kick. Ben had put across one or two decent balls before then and he again showed great technique for the goal. James Lukic and Ryan Laight could have got their heads to it but their runs probably distracted the keeper. We probably had a bit of luck but it shows what can happen with a ball that is played in there with pace and with great technique."

The one blemish for the Gladiators came on 40 minutes when winger Matty Caudwell was stretchered off with what was diagnosed as medial ligament damage. Matlock are anxiously awaiting news of the full ecxtent of Caudwell's injury.

"Its a big blow for us as he's been looking in good form of late" said Brown. "At the moment we don't know how long he'll be out for. We're hoping its just a tweak and that'll mean one or two weeks but anything more serious could see him out for four to six weeks which just about covers most of our remaining games."

Caudwell's injury is the latest in a catalogue of fitness problems for the Gladiators squad this season. Both striker Dene Cropper and full back or midfielder Paul Riley joined goalkeeper Martin Taylor on the sidelines for Eastwood's visit, but Brown is hopeful that all three could be fit enough for selection to face Ilkeston.But on the debit side captain James Lukic misses out through a one match ban after accumulating five cautions.

Tommy Hannigan is likely to be Lukic's deputy alongside Ryan Laight at the heart of the defence; while Richmond is expected to retain his place in goal. Kistell, who replaced the injured Caudwell, may have done enough to earn a starting place leaving Brown and managerial partner with the tough decision whether to bring back Riley and Cropper into their first eleven.

Brown agrees that March will be a tough test of Matlock's resources given their heavy schedule.

"Only time will tell if we have enough strength in depth given our injury problems, but we're still not ruling out any additions to our squad before the deadline (on March 31). We're always looking to add to the squad if the right player becomes available at the right price. We've got a decent squad of players here and if we'd like to be able to add to it with next season in mind if at all possible."

Ilkeston are again the division's big underachievers given their facilities and the budget at their disposal which is reported to be vastly superior to clubs like Matlock. Nigel Jemson's troops are eight points behind the Gladiators having played the same number of matches and are currently languishing in 17th spot. But they can be unpredictable, having done the double over third placed Gateshead and having won at play off chasing Guiseley a fortnight ago, but losing to the likes of Kendal Town and Lincoln United so far this season.

"It's a game that we look forward to every year and it's usually a decent game. Obviously we want to kick on and extend our recent run. We want to put in another decent performance for we need to keep on picking up points to keep us away from those clubs beneath us."

The Eastwood victory saw Matlock move up to ninth and realistically Matlock are competing for a top eight finish with Hednesford Town and a clutch of other clubs, with the top seven clubs appearing to be pulling away from the rest.

"We need to try and win as many games as possible and see where it takes us" said Brown. "The confidence seems to have returned in the last two games and we must build on this and have a strong finish to the season. Psychologically it would be nice to finish in the top eight and everyone will be working hard and doing their best to finish as high in the table as we can."

The remainder of March sees Matlock visit Ossett Town, Ashton United, Hednesford and Gateshead, while Kendal Town, Fleetwood Town, and Buxton all come to the Geoquip Stadium.