Home wins key for Atkins

Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins will be looking for his side to put together a run of wins at home, given their unusually below par away record this season.

Matlock have won just twice on their travels, and they came in the first month of the season, 2-0 at Frickley on August 23 and 2-1 at bottom markers Burscough on the second Saturday in September. Admittedly eight of their other fourteen away fixtures have ended all square, but in recent weeks the Gladiators have rarely looked like bringing home all three points.

"It's vital we do well in our home games for we're struggling to find any penetration away from home at the moment" said Atkins after his side had managed just two shots at goal in the 1-0 defeat at Chorley last Saturday.

At least there was more encouragement for him and the Matlock faithful from their first half display in the 1-1 draw at North Ferriby on Tuesday night which also meant that the Gladiators avoided going down to a fourth successive league defeat.

After starting well and going close through headers from James Lukic and Ian Holmes inside the opening five minutes, Holmes gave them the lead after 21 minutes before an effort from Gareth Davies beat North Ferriby goalkeeper Steve Wilson ,hit the foot of the post and rebound into Wilson's arms!

"We've got to build on that first half performance on Tuesday. We were bright from the start and took the game to them, just as I wanted us to. We got the goal and could easily have made it two with the shot which hit the post. We also defended very well as we did throughout the game. Unfortunately in the second half the wind got up, and North Ferriby put us under pressure. We just couldn't get out but for their pressure they never seriously troubled Jon Kennedy. He's had the one stop to make and they scored from their one good chance. I thought we were set for a win at half time, it does feel a little like a defeat."

Matlock's record since the start of November is won two, drawn six, lost six, effectively relegation form, so Atkins will be hoping that Saturday's home meeting with newly promoted Rushall Olympic, will be the start of a run of improved results.

"It'll be another tough game for Rushall have done very well since coming up into this division. They're well organised and proving difficult to beat so we've got to be on top of our game."

Atkins should be able to use the same sixteen man squad he named for the North Ferriby game with no injury problems reported. Laurence Gaughan, the 6'3" defender formerly with Liverpool and Celtic, and latterly with Galway in Ireland, made his debut at Chorley and looks a very accomplished acquisition.

Both Atkins and Chairman Tom Wright have urged the locals to get behind the Gladiators on Saturday.

"Everyone's well aware that our form hasn't been good but it's in circumstances like these that we need the fans to be behind us more than ever" said Wright. "We need them to show their loyalty in the difficult times as well as the good. I know that Mark and the lads are desperate to get a win and knowing that our fans are behind them will surely help them. So please get down on Saturday and show your support."

Atkins added "We'll continue to work hard to try and turn things around. We must believe that things will change for us in the next match, and if everyone, management, players, committee and fans are pulling in the same direction then it makes our goal immeasurably easier to achieve. If we can get the three points against Rushall it makes Tuesday night's point a very good one."

Matlock travel to Stalybridge Celtic's Bower Fold Stadium on Wednesday to face FC United of Manchester.