Persistent Atkins secures two targets

"Never give up" is advice Matlock manager Mark Atkins often imparts on his players. Those same words are perhaps apt as he finally secured two of his main transfer targets this week.

Six foot plus striker Danny Davidson finally signed on the dotted line for the Gladiators before last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Blue Square North leaders Hyde and made his debut in the 2-1 reverse to Hednesford in midweek.

Then on Tuesday Atkins brought in winger Craig Nelthorpe who also would have featured against Hednesford but for a slight hamstring problem. Nelthorpe is expected to feature in Saturday's trip to Bradford Park Avenue. Matlock's squad is also strengthened by Lee Whittington's return from Belper, the striker having spent a few weeks at Christ Church Meadow to get some games under his belt.

The much travelled Davidson, who lists Crawley Town, Stafford Rangers, Nuneaton, Tamworth and Moor Green amongst his former clubs, had a loan spell with the Gladiators scoring four times towards the end of the 2008/09 season scoring four times in a month when Atkins' side won their battle against relegation. Then he was at Alfreton, but during that summer, opted for a move to Boston United.

When the Pilgrims released him during the last close season, Atkins was in for him again, but again had to concede defeat as Worksop won the race to sign him. But things have not worked out for him at Sandy Lane, and it was a case of third time lucky for Atkins when the Tigers let him go a couple of weeks ago.

It is a similar scenario with Nelthorpe, who lists York City, Gateshead, Doncaster Rovers and Oxford United as former ports of call. Gainsborough Trinity deemed him surplus to requirements a fortnight ago and it seemed as if Atkins had got his man before Eastwood Town came in with an offer of Blue Square North football. But Nelthorpe could not settle at Coronation Park and decided to accept Matlock's offer.

"I think we've got two very good signings there" said Atkins. "Danny did very well for us on laon before and I'm sure he'll do equally as well again. He'll offer us something different in the striking department. I've been looking for a striker for a week or two now, especially as it seems Nathan Joynes might need a knee operation after his scan. I'm delighted Danny's here and equally pleased to have got Craig who again should be a good addition to our attacking options."

Matlock's squad has been paper thin in the last couple of weeks as injuries and suspensions have hit them hard. That continues at the Horsfall Stadium where Matlock take on their jinx club. Avenue have won the last seven games between the clubs, and Matlock's task does look more difficult as midfield anchor men Gareth Davies and Liam King are both serving one match bans. Davies though may have missed out in any event. A damaged hamstring suffered in the recent draw at Stafford partially cleared up for him to play two thirds of the Hyde tie, but he was forced to sit out Wednesday's game. Top scorer Ian Holmes again looks like being on the sidelines with a knee problem, as does Oscar Radford with his hamstring trouble. Ben Algar, with a groin injury could also miss out but Matlock are hopeful that Micky Harcourt's hamstring will have healed sufficiently for him to be recalled.

Only one win in eight league games has seen Matlock fall off the pace in the race for a play off position, with the Gladiators in eighth spot, but they have had a tough run of games which have included second placed Northwich twice, a trip to new leaders Chester and Hednesford in third at home. Bradford lie in fifth spot in a tough and competitive division.

Atkins had no complaints at Wednesday's 2-1 defeat as Hednesford avenged an FA Trophy replay defeat by the same scoreline exactly three weeks earlier.

"It was a game I thought we could have got three points from but we didn't play well. We did alright in the first fiften minutes but after that we played far too many long balls. We were definitely off the pace. There was n't enough creativity from the midfield and were off colour defensively also, so I've no complaints with the result."

He was also unhappy with Lee Featherstone who was sent off for using foul and abusive language to referee Steven Meredith in the penalty incident which led to Hednesford's second goal.

"Lee can have no complaints, he will be fined, that will be that" was Atkin's terse comment.

The Matlock chief had a great deal more sympathy for his players after Adam Griffin's injury time free kick edged Hyde through to a tie at Boston United in the next round of the FA Trophy.

"That was harsh on us. Given the circumstances of injuries beforehand and during the game, three lads really ought to have come off at half time, it was a fantastic performance against a very good Hyde side. We got the tactics spot on and the lads deserve real credit for the way they carried out instructions to the letter. If we'd been that bit more clinical with two or three good openings in the first half, then who knows, we might even have won it. But to lose the way we did was a sickener. You can't take anything away from the quality of the strike but it was never a free kick, the referee's had a poor game and got the decision badly wrong. That decision cost us."

A fixture change on Saturday week sees Town travel to Stocksbridge instead of FC united of Manchester who are involved in the next round of the FA Trophy. The Derbyshire Senior Cup tie at New Mills has been moved back a day from Monday 12 to Tuesday 13 December.