Atkins keen to take all three points

Draw specialists Matlock Town will be hoping to finally secure the two extra points when they entertain Rushall Olympic in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division on Saturday.

Both of the Gladiators' last league trips have seen them share the spoils at Bradford Park Avenue, where they held a two goal interval advantage, and last weekend, when Tyeisse Nightingale snatched a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Matlock are proving to be a tough team to beat but as manager Mark Atkins acknowledges "it's high time we started winning some games."

Having been happy with a draw at high flying Avenue, Atkins was less impressed with his troops against a Steels side currently in the relegation zone.

"We were poor in the first half and Stocksbridge deserved to be in front. We went there looking for the three points. I wanted us to push on and really express ourselves, but we never passed the ball well. The goalkeeper and the back four were the only ones who gave everything they've got, in fact the two centre halves were brilliant throughout the game. The other six let everyone down. We were a lot better in the second half without being brilliant. We got more balls into their box and troubled them a lot more. In the end a draw was a fair result."

Atkins admits that disciplinary issues are causing problems at present. Alongside Ty Nightingale's sending off against Stocksbrdge, skipper James Lukic misses out against Rushall for collecting five bookings, while Lee Featherstone's red card for using foul and abusive language at the referee in the 2-1 home defeat by Hednesford on November 30 keeps him out against both the Pics and the home derby with Buxton on Boxing Day. Nick Buxton was banished to the stand in the FA Trophy draw at Hednesford on November 5 and is banned for the festive fixtures with the Bucks and Mickleover Sports. Recently both Liam King and Gareth Davies were out after collecting five bookings, and Kris Bowler unluckily missed a game after an unlucky second yellow card in that Trophy encounter.

Nightingale will soon have a three game ban and although he is presently injured, new winger Craig Nelthorpe is suspended for offences before his move to Matlock.

"We've got problems because the bans seem to be all coming at once " said Atkins. "Bookings and sendings off for dissent aren't acceptable, we have a disciplinary code for these offences and players have been fined. They must take full responsibility" Atkins rapped.

It looks as though it will be a mix and match line up for the Gladiators this weekend, particularly in defence. Micky Harcourt suffered a reaction in training as he recovered from his hamstring trouble and is set to be out for another two or three weeks, as is his deputy Kris Witcombe who damaged a shoulder at Bradford. One silver lining could be a possible return for Oscar Radford who is spending a third month on loan from Doncaster Rovers and would slot into Lukic's position against Rushall.

Matlock's interest in this season's Derbyshire Senior Cup ended prematurely at New Mills on Tuesday night. The visitors missed a barrowload of chances and although Nightingale notched his fourth goal in the last three games to put them ahead on the stroke of half time, their generosity in front of goal came back to haunt them. The Millers equalised thanks to a glorious twenty five yarder from Anthony Field eleven minutes from time and then won it with a fluke effort in extra time. Luke Horrocks cross went in off the back post.

Now Matlock must make Rushall feel the backlash.

"They've done wellin their first season at this level and are a big strong side, so we've got to be up for it and ready for a battle" Atkins warned."We've got to pass the ball better to the standard we're really capable of. If that doesn't happen, I'll have to do something about it."

James Whitfield, a 17 year old striker who impressed Atkins in Matlock's FA Youth Cup run, has signed first team forms for the Gladiators.