Signings signal selection headache

Nine definite new signings with one more to come, possibly two, has left Matlock Town manager Mark Atkins with some tough decisions to make ahead of Saturday's EVO-STIK League opener at Trafford, writes Ian Richardson.

New recruit number nine arrived prior to last weekend's 1-0 victory at First Division South Sheffield FC when striker Zephaniah Thomas joined up, a vital signing after the Gladiators lost Shaun Tuton to Buxton and Daryl Thomas moved to London through work commitments during the summer.

Thomas, 24, was brought in from Scarborough Athletic and is a St Kitts and Nevis international having spent his early career at Rotherham United. He also played north of the border at Cowdenbeath. A prolific spell at Sheffield netting 19 goals in 29 appearances last season before switching to Mickleover Sports alerted Atkins, pictured, who was delighted to get his man.

He said: "I'd spoken to Zeph earlier in the summer after he'd done really well at Sheffield but Scarborough offered him a fantastic deal. But things didn't work out for him there so he got in touch and we brought him in. He's done really well in training, he'll work hard and he'll be a really good addition to our squad for he's hungry and a good finisher, that's something I feel we definitely need."

Atkins had earlier recruited winger Leon Osborne from Frickley Athletic, winger Jason Stokes who was formerly with Ilkeston FC, full-back Phil Roe who is back at Matlock after a spell with Worksop Town, former Doncaster Rovers midfielder Josh Meade, midfielder Niall Dawkins from Derby County, Chesterfield youngsters Oliver Brock and Alex Hewitt plus former Barnsley academy defender Dean Freeman.

Midfielder Jordan Snodin is also expected to sign later this week and Atkins said on Wednesday that a decision will be made on another player, believed to be a striker, after training on Thursday. "Some hard decisions will have to be made before Saturday but that's what you want, you want to have that quality which I feel we're now getting which gives a manager decisions to make," said the Gladiators manager.

His choices have been limited as both James Ashmore, who has not featured at all during pre-season with a knee injury, and Roe, foot, will definitely be out of the trip to Shawe View, while full back Micky Harcourt's knee injury will be monitored. If Harcourt is unfit, it is thought Adam Yates, who missed the Sheffield win attending a wedding, will wear the number two shirt.

David Haggerty scored the winner at Sheffield to end what Atkins says has been a "long pre-season" and he added: "We couldn't do much about that for we were all delighted to have Derby bringing such a strong team to us in early July. Looking at pre-season as a whole there's been some good and some not so good things, but fitness levels are good and I think we've got a nice strong squad.

"We're hoping for a good season, some good cup runs and obviously to finish as high as we can in the league. There's not much use in setting targets until the season is up and running. It'll be a difficult game at a side who finished just above us last year. They've a way of playing that suits them so we know we have to do our jobs right and if everyone does what is expected of them then we can go there and get a good result."

Matlock's first game is an action replay of last season. Daryl Thomas gave Matlock the lead at Trafford but the newly promoted home side recovered to win 2-1.