Atkins lays down the law

Matlock boss Mark Atkins has warned two of his squad that they face disciplinary action for night clubbing until the early hours on the eve of their 1-0 defeat at Buxton on Easter Monday, writes Ian Richardson.

With the Gladiators hosting Curzon Ashton on Thursday night in the semi finals of the Doodson Sport Cup, Atkins blasted the duo after learning that they'd been out on the town on Sunday, 24 hours after their 3-0 defeat at AFC Flyde and ahead of the Bank Holiday reverse.

Atkins, who would not name the players as he fumed over a lacklustre showing from his side on Monday, said: "Two of my players were in a nightclub. We've had great team spirit here lately by fighting for each other and this isn't acceptable by any stretch of the imagination.

"It's not fair on the rest of the players, the club nor the supporters and disciplinary action will be taken against them. Their performances on Monday were poor and staying out late will have contributed to it. If I'd got players to replace them, I would certainly have left them out of the team."

Atkins, pictured, was unhappy with the performance in general, hinting that more commitment would have brought some reward. Ironically he was happier with Saturday's 3-0 defeat at play-off chasing AFC Fylde.

The visit to Lancashire was hastily arranged to ease more fixture chaos after the Gladiators' originally scheduled home fixture with Worksop looked likely to be postponed and Fylde's trip to Stocksbridge was called off.

Atkins said: "It's been a frustrating Easter. Big mistakes in both games have proved to be expensive. We should have defended better for their penalty on Saturday when Adam Yates didn't need to challenge their player. At Buxton Jon's [Kennedy] made a bad decision for their goal. Both have held their hands up but if we hadn't conceded those goals we'd probably have got two draws."

A small squad is making life difficult for Atkins but he refuses to use that as an excuse ahead of his side's Doodson clash at the Reynolds Stadium.

"We made a few chances on Saturday and passed the ball better but at Buxton there was nothing, no end product in the final third," said the Gladiators manager. "We should have done better and I won't let the season peter out. If I need to use the reserves then I will do."

Yates missed the Buxton game after a hip injury flared up again and Atkins is hoping he will be fit to face Curzon Ashton. But top scorer Lewis McMahon will definitely miss the tie and Saturday's visit of AFC Fylde.

Atkins added: "It's a nasty injury and the swelling's gone down from around his thigh area to his knee and you simply can't play with an injury like that, it's far too dangerous. We're just hoping it settles down very soon."