Atkins targets points before glory

Matlock Town's hot-shot striker Massiah McDonald will miss their FA Trophy clash at home to Luton Town after picking up a second booking at Whitby Town on Saturday, writes Ian Richardson.

McDonald, who is on loan from Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division rivals Worksop and set to join the Gladiators permanently in January after a deal was struck between the clubs, picked up his tenth booking of the season during their 2-1 replay win over Conference Premier Mansfield.

The striker set up the Second Round tie with the Hatters at the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday December 15 with a last minute winner and he also misses Matlock's Derbyshire Senior Cup tie at Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Gresley next Tuesday.

Gladiators manager Mark Atkins, pictured, said: "It's unfortunate but he's got ten bookings and needs to be a bit careful. Some of them have come from his desire to tackle back in trying to win the ball but one or two have been for dissent and the booking against Mansfield was a needless and costly one for he now misses the biggest game of the season."

McDonald will be available on Saturday when Atkins says there's more important bread and butter league business to attend to first. The Gladiators lie in 17th spot after defeats in their last two league outings. The latest, a 1-0 defeat at Whitby Town in tricky conditions on the Yorkshire coast on Saturday, left Atkins determined to see his side return to winning ways when they host Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

He said: "Stafford's a big game, one we really need to get three points from. It's important we get back to winning ways especially at home. They beat us 1-0 at their place early in the season in a game we deserved something from so we'll be looking to avenge that defeat."

Looking back at the Whitby defeat, Atkins added: "We gave them their goal which was disappointing and did not really get going in the first half. We huffed and puffed and were better in the second half and perhaps an indication that we eventually deserved a point out of it was that the Whitby goalkeeper was named as man of the match.

"We didn't deserve to win though but what happened was probably understandable. Things have gone well recently and the fact that they never gave up was pleasing. I can't really fault them for what they've done over the last six or seven weeks."