Cup win could prove costly

Matlock Town are facing a fresh injury crisis after their Doodson Sport Cup win over Farsley left no fewer than six players needing assessment ahead of Saturday's long trip to Kendal, writes Ian Richardson.

Just as Gladiators manager Mark Atkins thought his side's injury woes were finally receding, a 3-1 victory in a bruising quarter final bout at home to Evo-Stik NPL First Division North Farsley on Tuesday night could decimate his squad.

Atkins, pictured, fears top scorer Lewis McMahon is almost certainly out after making his first start since sustaining ankle ligament damage against Borrowash Victoria back on January 29. The striker was hit with a high tackle that an angry Atkins claimed could have been 'career ending'.

The Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division manager said: "He's really lucky it's not a bad break and a career ending injury. He's got stud marks around his hip bone and it's swelled up badly so I really can't see him being ready for Kendal."

Booking their second semi-final appearance of the season also left Atkins facing up to the possible loss of keeper Jon Kennedy, leg, Massiah McDonald, ankle, Micky Harcourt, hamstring strain, Laurence Gaughan, back, and Gareth Davies, knee. To add to his problems, skipper James Lukic is also due to serve a one game ban this weekend following his controversial dismissal at Hednesford a couple of weeks ago.

Atkins said: "We'll have to wait until training on Thursday and see how everyone is. While I was delighted to win the game and reach another semi-final, when it got to the hour point I was chiefly concerned with getting as many players off the pitch at the end fit and well.

"We'd played some excellent football in the first half and created two good chances to score two very good goals. We'd passed the ball around well and I said to the lads at half time that their only way back was to try and get at us physically. We didn't play well in the second half but did enough to deservedly win the game."

Having drawn their last three league games, the latest last weekend in a 0-0 stalemate at home to Whitby, Atkins is hoping for a three point return against the struggling Lake District side despite his squad woes.

Atkins added: "Kendal are fighting for their lives so we can expect a tough game up there. We may have to go there with a weakened side, we'll have to see, but we'll go there wanting to keep our little unbeaten run going and ideally win the game."

In other team news, young strikers Joe Leesley and Brad Grayson are expected to have recovered from outbreaks of sickness which forced them to miss out against Farsley.

United States-born Portuguese midfielder Geoffrey Guiveia, who was recently released by Lincoln City and replaced McMahon against Farsley, could make his second appearance after coming within inches of scoring a memorable debut goal within nine minutes of coming against Farsley.

* Ilkeston FC beat Alfreton Town 2-0 on Tuesday to book their place against the Gladiators in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final at Chesterfield's Proact Stadium on Tuesday 30 April.