Blank week does Gladiators no favours

The intricacies of the fixture list have probably done Matlock no favours as a blank weekend after the fine second half showing against FC United on Wednesday night means they must wait a further seven days to try and build on that display.

Although their below par away record this season continued with a 2-1 defeat at Stalybridge Celtic's Bower Fold Stadium, there was much to admire about the way Matlock fought back from a 2-0 half time deficit to leave the play off chasers clinging on for their win.

Their hopes of adding to their two away wins this term, the last as far back as September 3 against Burscough, looked dead and buried at the interval. Matlock had been given a footballing lesson by United and the two goal lead was the least that Karl Marginson's men deserved.

But after the break it was a different story. Manager Mark Atkins surprised the travelling fans by bringing defender Adam Yates off the bench and slotting him into a midfield role and this was instrumental in the Gladiators' greatly improved second half performance. Now it was the Gladiators who dominated.

Yates played a prominent part in the goal which gave Matlock real hope just after the hour. He provided the energy and life that had been missing in the first half, and now he might have found himself a new position.

"One of the main reasons I arranged the recent friendly at Rainworth was to take a look at Yatesy in midfield, I'd been thinking about that for a while. Unfortunately he couldn't then play at Rainworth because he had to work, but he's come on against a very good side like FC United and done tremendously well in there and got us going again. It could well be that we'll try him again in midfield" Atkins admitted.

Yates had been ill over the previous weekend with a sickness bug which forced him to miss the 1-0 home win over Rushall Olympic and Atkins added that both Ben Algar and skipper James Lukic had suffered with the same ailment ahead of the FC clash.

"We were a bit short in the first half, they were too quick and too good for us" Atkins continued. "We gave them far too much space and good sides like United will punish you like they did.The two goals we conceded were disappointing, at 2-0 down it was an uphill struggle, but we changed things for the second half when we had more energy and purpose and it worked a treat with Adam outstanding in midfield. We got back into it and then probably did enough to earn a point. In the end we fought hard in the second half and showed that we can compete with the good sides."

Atkins had indicated ahead of the Rushall game that the Gladiators' home form would be crucial in determining their final position, at the moment fourteenth. They did well to secure a much needed win, only their second in twelve league matches since November against a rugged and uncompromising Pics side who were reduced to ten men in the 74th minute when substitute Matt Lewis saw red for an elbow on Liam King. Facing a stiff wind in the first half Matlock fought hard and even created the two best chances before having the confidence to go on and dominate the second half.

Even with them piling on the pressure, it looked as if a goal wouldn't come until new loan signing Lewis McMahon smashed home a penalty in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the game.

"It was tricky for us in the first half with that strong wind against a big hard side. We'd spoken about Rushall's direct approach and the physical way they play. We knew we'd got to stand up to them and we did just that, they had just the one chance from our mistake.

"We had the two best chances, particularly the one for Ben Algar just before half time. I was pleased with us after the first half, and our performance gave us the confidence to go on and fully dominate the second half. The only question was whether we'd get the goal we deserved. Our attitude was first class and their goalkeeper's pulled off three or four great saves. Sometimes in these circumstances you think it's not going to be your day but we carried on getting the ball into the right areas, eventually winning the penalty which gave us our reward" said Atkins.

The manager also admitted that the dire performance in the previous home game when Ashton United won 2-0 was still fresh in his mind.

"We were desperate for the win and we were both relieved and pleased at the final whistle.To be fair to the players their response since the poor display against Ashton has been fantastic, they've come back fighting and battling. We talked in great detail about that Ashton performance and the need to put things right. Everyone's working extremely hard."

Atkins also praised the fans after he and Chairman Tom Wright asked for their backing before the game.

"Saturday was probably the first time since we've had the new stand and Social Club that they've really chanted loudly for us, they were fantastic and it's something we want to continue at future home games."

Goalscorer McMahon (26) was formerly with Sheffield Wednesday where he made 25 first team appearances before moving to Notts County where he made a further 29. Then he left for York City before joining Gainsborough Trinity.

"We'd been looking for a certain type of striker for three or four months and we got a phone call from Gainsborough on the Thursday saying he was available if we wanted him" Atkins explained. "I've got to thank the committee for making the funds available to bring him in. He holds the ball up very well and will offer us something different in an attacking sense. He's been a regular at Conference North level." McMahon is on loan until March 31.

Meanwhile leaving The Reynolds Stadium and following striker Lee Morris to North Ferriby United is winger Ben Hunter.

Matlock are next in action on Saturday March 10 when Nantwich Town are the visitors.