Joint Matlock Town boss Phil Brown insists that the Gladiators can still compete for honours in the UniBond Premier Division in spite of losing seven of the squad that made the play offs and reached two cup finals last season.

 Last Saturday's 1-0 defeat to OssettTown, their first of the season at the Geoquip Stadium, left them in seventh spot, still holding their own in spite of the spate of departures.

 Strikers Ian Holmes and Tom Cahill are trying their luck in the Football League with Mansfield Town and Rotherham United. Midfielders Kris Bowler and Steve Warne have moved nine miles east along the A615 to Blue Square North Alfreton Town. Utility player Wayne Diuk's work commitments forced him to move south to British Gas Premier Division Corby Town and Sheffield University student Liam Howley's studies finished, so he returned home to the Luton area and has since rejoined Leighton Town. Winger Mark Smith was failing to gain a regular place in the Gladiators starting line up and he opted to drop a division and join Belper Town.

There have been three major arrivals so far. Full back Ryan Laight joined from Barnsley having had loan spells at both Alfreton and Tamworth last season. Striker Laurence Hall came after being released by Stoke City and winger Matty Caudwell, who Brown and managerial colleague Gareth Williams chased all summer while he was at Gainsborough, finally signed in at Matlock in September after a spell at Worksop Town.

 Full back Phil Austin and defender James Kilsner have made brief substitute appearances., while midfielder Curtis Shaw is currently on a month's loan at Matlock from Hucknall Town.

"We're not far short but we possibly need to fadd one or two players to freshen the squad up" said Brown. "At the start of the season when we won four out of the first five we were playing some decent stuff. To their credit the lads have worked tremendously hard since and there's still the same spirit in the squad. We're not too far away but we're not quite there yet. We've not reached the performance levels of last season yet."

 Brown's last comment is hardly surprising as Matlock have lost some quality players. Holmes struck 33 league and cup goals to finish as the UniBond Premier Division's leading marksman. Cahill's strength and workrate in attack made him a popular figure with the Matlock faithful. Both Bowler and Warne have been key figures in the Gladiators midfield, with Warne cracking in five goals for them this season before his move to Alfreton a fortnight ago.

 "Any club will miss the likes of Holmesy, Tom, Krissy and Warney" said Brown. "Liam Howley was also a very valuable player for us but its a big pity that we couldn't keep Wayne Diuk as his versatility in both midfield and in defence would have been a real bonus for us. But Ryan Laight, Laurence Hall and Matty Caudwell have all come in and done very well"

Both Brown and Williams were out watching games on Tuesday night as the search to strengthen the Gladiators squad goes on, and with newly installed goalkeeping coach also looking for fresh talent as well as watching the Gladiators future opponents, Matlock can certainly not be accused of being idle in this respect.

"Its important that the players we bring in improve us as a squad and maintain the fabulous spirit we have in the changing room. We're out there looking and working hard to try and find the players we want."

Last Saturday's loss to Ossett saw the Gladiators and the Yorkshire side swap places in the table. Matlock had the lion's share of the play in a game of few clear cut chances.

 "We dominated and played some decent football at times without being near our best. We could have won it but we switched off immediately after missing the penalty and it cost us" said Brown.

"We had two or three decent chances and a few half chances. Andy Richmond said himself he had hardly anything to do all game so it's very frustrating to have lost".

The curse which saw Matlock miss six spot kicks last season appears to have returned as the Gladiators have converted just one out of three penalties this term.

 Simon Barraclough hit the winner from the spot in Matlock's opening game against Lincoln United, but then failed in the home game with Gateshead on September 22. On Saturday, Matlock had the chance to draw first blood in the 62nd minute against Ossett, but Ryan Laight, who held an impressive 100% striking record from twelve yards in twelve attempts while at Barnsley, saw his side footed effort well saved by goalkeeper Piotr Skiba.

Laight has received plenty of words of support from the fans on the club's website and the full back has vowed to continue taking penalties, which cheers Brown.

 "It shows he's confident enough and that's good to hear. Hopefully he'll score the next penalty and go on from there and it'll do him the world of good."

A surprise but welcome inclusion on the bench last weekend was striker Steve Taylor who reported fit again quicker than anticipated after a back complaint. Taylor came on for the last twenty minutes as Matlock went with three up front in a bid to save the game.

 "Steve looked fit and strong and it was definitely a bonus for us" said Brown. "It also adds to our options and increases competition for places although both Laurence and Simon have done really well in recent games."

On Saturday Matlock turn their attention to the FA Trophy with a stiff test against title chasing Gateshead at the Geoquip Stadium.

 The Tynesiders warmed up for the tie with a fine 3-1 win at Kendal Town on Tuesday to leave them in second spot, but they will be without one of their more influential players at Matlock as David Southern, scorer of a hat-trick in the league game with the Gladiators at the International Stadium just over a year ago, misses out through suspension after his last minute sending off at home to Shepshed Dynamo in the last round a fortnight ago.

The league game at the Geoquip six weeks ago ended 1-1.After Barraclough's header had given Matlock the lead inside the first forty seconds, Ian Robson levelled for the visitors just before the break. Then both sides missed chances in a first class game.

"We should probably have beaten them in the league match" reckoned Brown. "We played well, it was an entertaining game and it'll probably be something similar on Saturday".

 The Gladiators may be without defender Ryan Davis who was forced off at half time against Ossett with tweaked knee ligaments, but there are options available to them with Laight possibly partnering James Lukic in the centre or Glenn Kirkwood being recalled. Dene Cropper serves the second of his three match ban.

If a replay is necessary, it will be at Gateshead on Wednesday night, kick off 8 pm.

 Otherwise Matlock will host Stamford for the second time in two weeks after the Daniels extra time defeat by the Gladiators in a replay at the Geoquip Stadium. Stamford were hammered 6-1 at Hednesford on Saturday, with Brown saying that the extra time in midweek, probably contributing to the thrashing.

"It was probably partly down to tiredness from the extra time against us for we certainly didn't look quite as sharp against Ossett. We're expecting another close game, but they like to attack and it just might suit us better"

Keen Matlock fan and Supporters Club Committee member John Lawton presented the Supporters Club with a ?500 cheque from proceeds so far from his book "Gladiators On Tour and Other Footballing Stories" which has seen sales of over 300. The book is available at the club shop and at various other outlets in Matlock and the surrounding area. It recalls Matlock's successful 2006/07 campaign and other games watched by avid groundhopper John throughout the season, earning complimentary reviews and comments. 20% of all profits go to John's favourite charity Water Aid and a ?100 cheque is to be presented to them soon. John hopes for healthy future sales of his book which can be ordered online at http//www.freewebs.com/matlockfc/gladiatorsontour.htm