Atkins losing patience at Matlock displays

Mark Atkins seems to be losing patience and is ready to make the changes needed to arrest a Matlock Town slump that has seen them fail to record a league victory in eight games.

The 3-1 defeat at Mickleover Sports on Monday afternoon upset Atkins and fans alike and the manager was quick to announce the departure of six foot two striker Danny Davidson soon after the game.

Davidson, formerly with Alfreton Town, only returned to the Reynolds Stadium for a second spell at the end of November. In his first spell towards the end of the 2008/09 campaign, Davidson hit four goals in a month's long loan from the Reds and that contribution was integral in the Gladiators retaining their Premier Division status. Since then Davidson has been at Boston United in the Blue Square North before joining Matlock's Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division rivals Worksop Town at the beginning of this season. But Davidson could not force his way into the Tigers line up and Atkins brought him to Matlock.

But Davidson has proved to be a disappointment second time around, rarely looking like finding the target in his six games, and Atkins actually substituted him just half an hour into Monday's defeat at Station Road.

"For one reason or another it's not worked out for Danny. We've not got the best out of him and by his own admission, he's not played well and he's not been enjoying it so it's in the best interests of everyone that I've released him. He was on good money and we need to make the best use of the budget we have at our disposal. We wish him well wherever he ends up" said Atkins.

An angry Atkins hinted that Davidson might not be the only player moving out of the Reynolds Stadium exit door. He even went as far as to suggest that some of his players "had enjoyed themselves a little too much over Christmas" and apologised to the club's supporters who made up over half the gate at Mickleover.

"You would certainly think that given the performance on Monday" he snapped. "You simply can't afford to do that if you want to succeed at football at a decent level.

"The lads were in for training on both Tuesday and Thursday and were told exactly what they're giving or not giving for this football club. Monday was not good enough.A lot of players were off form, we were second best nearly all over the pitch and that can't be allowed to happen, particularly as with just one or two exceptions, you'd say we had the better individual players. But our desire levels and our commitment wasn't just good enough and we can have no complaints about the result.

"I apologise to all our fans for the display which clearly wasn't acceptable. We'd worked on a system in training with three up that we thought would cause them problems but it didn't. We made what was a positive change and did well for the last fifteen minutes of the first half. But the second half was really disappointing and apart from Lukey's header we didn't create a worthwhile chance while defensively we were awful allowing them far too much space."

Matlock now lie in twelfth spot and Atkins conceded that the Gladiators are looking over their shoulders at clubs below them.

"We've dropped towards the bottom and we can't hide away from the fact that we need a win desperately now" he admitted. "It's my job to ensure we do just that, how we do it doesn't really matter. I have to pick a side that will be up for the battle, the football might not be the prettiest but it's points on the board that matter now."

So it will be a case of two out of form teams coming together at the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday as visitors Frickley Athletic have lost their last five league games and lie in 17th place, five points adrift of Matlock and having played two games more. It is the first of a double header against the South Elmsall based side who also come to Matlock in the 4th Round of the Doodson Sports League Cup on Wednesday night.

"Frickley always give you a tough battle and they'll be just as desperate for the points as us on Saturday so we need to take the game by the scruff of the neck and make sure we win the game" said Atkins. "Both games against them are important, we want the three points and we want to get through to the next round of the cup. We'll take each game as it comes" Atkins continued.

The Town boss revealed that he has put in a seven day approach for another recruit, but also his selection options are steadily increasing.

James Lukic and Micky Harcourt were back against Mickleover and both winger Craig Nelthorpe and midfielder Kris Bowler might have recovered from injury in time for the weekend. Chris Bettney remains doubtful with a rib injury sustained in the Boxing Day draw with Buxton and striker TJ Nightingale completes his three match ban on Saturday and should be available for the Doodson Cup clash. Ben Algar's groin injury leaves him a week or two away from a return.