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Matlock Town FC News

Matlock Town News Round Up And Transfer News

Friday 21st November 2014
by Ian Richardson




Joint boss Dave Rushbury was a relatively happy man, despite Tuesday night's home Doodson Sports League Cup exit to IlkestonJoint boss Dave Rushbury was a relatively happy man, despite Tuesday night's home Doodson Sports League Cup exit to Ilkeston - as for Rushbury and fellow hot seat occupant Martin Foster, it's about seeing the bigger picture.

Danny Holland netted his tenth goal of the campaign from the spot to give the Gladiators all three points at Stamford last weekend, to earn only their second away league victory of the season.

But in midweek, the Matlock management team opted for a more youthful approach against an Ilkeston team which also relied heavily on youth, the Robins side having a smattering of first team players but also many from their successful academy.

A 10th minute Michael Williams goal saw Matlock exit a cup competition at the opening hurdle for the third time this season, and while in an ideal world, Matlock would have wanted the win, the loss was not the be all and end all and it was Matlock's second half performance that had Rushbury smiling.

"We put out a young side and said to them can you grab a shirt? At half time we would probably have said no, we made Ilkeston, who are a good side, look better by not pressing them. We stood off them and sides of that quality will pass the ball around you. They did, they scored and in the end it proved decisive. But once we got hold of the game, we were the better side and in the second half, Jon Kennedy had very little to do.

"The back three were magnificent, it was both a solid and a positive second half performance. We didn't create very much at all in the first half but we looked more dangerous after the interval. These young lads will need experienced lads to come in alongside them and they'll develop. The crowd too were very supportive, I think they understood what we were trying to do."

A pattern ran through the second half on Tuesday and during most of the Stamford win. Matlock need to be more clinical in front of goal.

"But the killer instinct needs to be in the whole team, not in just two or three of them" Rushbury continued, "Players are sometimes slow to react and that can be the difference between scoring a goal or not. Good teams finish off their chances. We're not as clinical as we'd all like to be, but it's up to us as managers and the lads to develop that - and it'll take time. Had we taken our chances at Stamford, we wouldn't have been sweating on Jon Kennedy's penalty save and fine stops at the end to ensure our win."

The win and Stamford's subsequent home defeat on Tuesday to basement club Belper, edged Matlock closer to the Daniels who are one point and one place above them, having played one game less than Town. But the Daniels have picked up just eight points from their last thirteen games, having secured maximum points from their first five matches.

There is also a chink of daylight between 17th placed Matlock and teams below them but the Gladiators have some tough tests on the horizon, beginning at third placed Curzon Ashton on Saturday and followed by a visit from mid table Rushall Olympic on Tuesday.

"It was an awesome performance at Stamford and for the first time in ages, we had a bit of luck but we deserved it. We're looking forward to playing Curzon and Rushall for we're doing well and making life hard for teams. We need to move forward and carry on accumulating points."

Changes are certain at Curzon where Oscar Radford, Micky Harcourt and Danny Holland should all return, but Corey Gregory will be missing for two to three weeks with shoulder ligament damage, which forced his 16th minute withdrawal at Stamford.

Striker Andre Johnson, 19, joined the Gladiators last Friday after scoring sixteen goals for Worksop Town in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division so far this season. Johnson, who is at Matlock on a dual registration basis with the Tigers, was formerly at Derby County Academy and started his first game for the Gladiators in midweek.

"Andre had a run out and he'll learn at this level that he can't just be a goalscorer, it's also about learning to contribute to the group, rather than being an individual, but we believe that in time, he'll do that," Rushbury concluded.

The scheduled trip to King's Lynn on Saturday week has been postponed due to the Linnets continued involvement in the FA Trophy and Matlock are waiting to hear of a replacement fixture. Meanwhile, Buxton will visit the Autoworld Arena in the 3rd Round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup next month.


 

 

 

 





 

 


 

 

RECENT STORIES

MUCH NEEDED WIN FOR MATLOCK IN RELEGATION 'SIX POINTER' -
If ever Matlock needed a win, then Saturday was it in this crucial relegation 'six-pointer' against fellow strugglers Witton Albion. Match Report More...

MATLOCK TOWN UNVEIL NEW MANAGER -
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Sometimes the scoreline does not reflect the game, but sadly for Matlock on this occasion, they can have no complaints about the severity of the defeat. More...

KEEPER KENNEDY PIVOTAL IN AWAY WIN AT STAMFORD. MATCH REPORT -
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MATLOCK APPOINTS CARETAKER MANAGEMENT PAIR AS PERMANENT -
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More...

MATLOCK EARN A WELCOME 3 POINTS WITH 3 GOALS IN A 6 POINTER -
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MATLOCK SECOND BEST IN DEFEAT AWAY AT WORKINGTON -
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MATLOCK CLIMB OUT OF BOTTOM FOUR AFTER SECOND SUCCESSIVE WIN -
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MATLOCK NEWS -
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MATLOCK MISERY CONTINUES WITH 3 POINTS LOST AT GRANTHAM -
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MATLOCK MANAGER ATKINS RESIGNS FOLLOWING HEAVY HOME DEFEAT -
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MATLOCK GO JOINT BOTTOM FOLLOWING HOME DEFEAT BY WHITBY TOWN -
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MATLOCK NEWS AS ONE OF ATKINS' THREE TRANSFER TARGETS ARRIVES -
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MATLOCK TOWN
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2 SOLID DRAWS BUT
0 SIGNINGS -

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GLADIATORS EARN DESERVED BANK HOLIDAY POINT AT BELPER -
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MATLOCK TOWN
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HOLIDAY WEEKEND -

"Not good enough!" was the painful verdict of Matlock manager Mark Atkins after the opening two matches of the new campaign yielded just a solitary point More...

A 'DISAPPOINTING' LOSS FOR MATLOCK'S FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON -
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TOUGH DECISIONS FOR MATLOCK BOSS AHEAD OF SEASON OPENER -
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MATLOCK NEWS AHEAD OF FINAL
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MATLOCK NEWS ROUND UP AS INJURY CRISIS GETS WORSE -
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LEICESTER'S YOUNG GUNS TOO STRONG FOR WEAKENED GLADIATORS -
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MATLOCK MAKE IT FIVE PRE-SEASON WINS IN A ROW -
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MATLOCK NOTCH UP
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MATLOCK GET A DESERVED WIN VS GRIMSBY, PLUS FULL FIXTURES LIST -
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GLADIATORS BOSS ADMITS STRIKER'S DEPARTURE IS "A HUGE BLOW" -
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GLADIATORS HIT A SIX IN A PRE-SEASON GAMES BONANZA -
Mark Atkins' desire for more home pre season friendlies has been satisfied to the full as the Gladiators announced their sixth warm up game at the Autoworld Arena. More...

MATLOCK TOWN GET RAMS, OWLS & FOXES VISITS AS WORKSOP TOWN RESIGN -
Matlock Town's pre season programme took shape further this week and it's another prestige home friendly for the Gladiators, as Derby County announced they would be visiting the Autoworld Arena More...

MATLOCK EARN A LAST MINUTE POINT AGAINST BUXTON. MATCH REPORT -
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MATLOCK'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY AS THEY DRAW AT NANTWICH TOWN -
Matlock should really have brought all three points back from the Weaver Stadium on Saturday after dominating the opening half More...

THREE RED CARDS AS MATLOCK EARN THEIR FIRST WIN IN NINE GAMES -
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MATLOCK NEWS ROUND UP AND WHITBY PREVIEW -
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Martin Foster's penalty at the death, earned Matlock a well deserved point in a feisty derby at the Silverlands, after substitute Mark Reed had headed Buxton in front in the 84th minute. More...

GLADIATORS SURRENDER TO A BATTLING WITTON ALBION -
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The Gladiators had to settle for a point in a feisty clash at the Autoworld Arena on Tuesday night which saw eight yellow cards and a Blyth equalizer six minutes from the end. More...

MATLOCK SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT AFTER BATTLING FC UNITED ALL THE WAY -
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MATLOCK BRING A HARD EARNED POINT HOME FROM BARWELL. -
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ATKINS - 'STILL A LOT TO PLAY FOR' MATLOCK TOWN'S NEWS ROUND UP -
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MATLOCK LOSE AN 'EASILY FORGETTABLE GAME' AWAY AT STAMFORD -
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A NIGHTMARE DEFEAT FOR MATLOCK AGAINST STRUGGLING STAFFORD -
A home banker turned into a nightmare for Matlock who were on the end of a shock defeat. Match Report More...

MATLOCK MARCH ON WITH A THIRD LEAGUE WIN IN A WEEK - AWAY AT ILKESTON -
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MATLOCK'S NEWS AS THEY PREPARE FOR LOCAL DERBY WITH ILKESTON -
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MATLOCK EARN AN IMPRESSIVE FIFTH SUCCESSIVE HOME WIN -
Matlock's impressive home record was maintained as they earned a fifth successive win at the Autoworld Arena in a thrilling game with Grantham on Tuesday night. More...

MAGNIFICENT MATLOCK EARN THE WIN AGAINST SKELMERSDALE -
A magnificent performance from the boys in blue earned the hosts a deserved win against second in the table Skelmersdale, in spite of having to play the final sixty four minutes with only ten men. More...

MATLOCK HOPING
FOR A DEBUT WIN AT THE NEWLY NAMED AUTOWORLD ARENA -

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MATLOCK AGREE LUCRATIVE NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH AUTOWORLD -
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MATLOCK HIT FOR SIX AS THEIR UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN ABRUPT END -
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MATLOCK FACE SIX POINTER AT RUSHALL AS 2 NEW SIGNINGS ARE ANNOUNCED -
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ATKINS PRAISES PLAYERS AFTER DIFFICULT WIN AT FRICKLEY & NEWS -
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GLADIATORS GO
FIVE UNBEATEN
WITH AWAY WIN AT FRICKLEY -

Matlock extended their unbeaten run to five games and secured their first away win in four months in terrible weather at Westfield Lane on Saturday. More...

GLADIATORS EARN A HARD FOUGHT WIN AT HOME TO DROYLSDEN. MATCH REPORT -
Matlock got the win everyone expected against the basement side, but it was a more difficult challenge than the 4-1 win at the Butchers Arms in October More...

THIS WEEK'S NEWS FROM MATLOCK AND
A PREVIEW OF THE DROYLSDEN GAME -

"We take nothing for granted" will be the message from Matlock boss Mark Atkins as they welcome basement club Droylsden to the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S MATCH AT STORMY STAMFORD
IS ABANDONED. MATCH REPORT -

Referee David Plowright halted proceedings after 23 minutes when a fierce thunderstorm engulfed the ground and left the pitch saturated. More...

McMAHON SCORES TWO TO GIVE MATLOCK THREE. MATCH REPORT -
Lewis McMahon's brace earned Matlock their victory, but others behind him put in sterling effort to ensure another clean sheet at home. More...

LATE PENALTY DENIES MATLOCK A WIN AFTER SCRAPPY ENCOUNTER -
A 78th minute penalty leveller denied Matlock all three points from a scrappy encounter at The Meres against Grantham Town. More...

MATLOCK NEWS AND PREVIEW OF SATURDAY'S AWAY TRIP TO GRANTHAM -
After ending high flying Worksop Town's unbeaten run at the thirteenth game, Matlock Town face a different challenge when they travel to Grantham on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S INABILITY TO FINISH COSTS THEM ANOTHER 3 POINTS -
For this week's report, see last weeks and probably many before! More points go astray for Matlock simply because they could not finish chances off. More...

MATLOCK'S DERBY DRAW IN THE DARK
AS BUXTON'S BULBS BLOW! -

The lights went out with a bang at the Silverlands to end this Boxing Day A6 derby early at half time. More...

MATLOCK GET THE CLEAN SHEET - BUT NOT THE THREE POINTS -
Again this was a tale of Matlock being unable to take the few chances that came their way in a dour stalemate at home against Marine. More...

ALL THE GLADIATORS' NEWS AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEK FIXTURES -
"Individual mistakes are killing us!" declared Matlock boss Mark Atkins after the disappointing and frustrating recent run of form More...

MATLOCK DEFEAT AT STOCKSBRIDGE WAS "LARGELY SELF INFLICTED" -
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MATLOCK MAKE IT AN UNWANTED HAT TRICK WITH A THIRD CUP EXIT -
Matlock made it an unwanted hat-trick of cup exits against lower league opposition this term, as Glossop knocked them out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup. More...

MATLOCK GET THEIR FIRST WIN IN SIX AS THEY BEAT
TRAFFORD -

This first league win in six matches for Matlock Town was achieved with a little more difficulty than was envisaged at the half time break which came at a bad time for the home side. More...

MATLOCK HAVE 'ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME' AFTER
DEFEAT TO WITTON -

Matlock had only themselves to blame for not winning a game they dominated at Witton Albion. More...

MATLOCK MAKE HARD WORK OF A WIN OVER HALLAM IN MID-WEEK FRIENDLY -
The Gladiators made hard work of beating Toolstation NCEL First Division visitors Hallam, in a hastily arranged friendly game at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday night More...

MATLOCK SUFFER UNDESERVED FA TROPHY EXIT AT CHORLEY -
Chorley secured a hat-trick of victories against Matlock with this FA Trophy result at Victory Park last Saturday, but the 2-0 scoreline fails to tell the whole story as Matlock deserved at least a replay. More...

MATLOCK MAKE A POINT AGAINST HIGH FLYERS AFC FYLDE. MATCH REPORT -
Danny Holland had given Matlock a deserved interval lead against title contenders AFC Fylde, but the Coasters got a fortunate break five minutes into the second half to level through Andy Russell. More...

TOUGH FIXTURES AND A FAIR PLAY AWARD IN A GLADIATORS NEWS ROUND-UP -
If Monday's FA Trophy draw seemed tough - a visit to Chorley on November 16th - then Mark Atkins' men received confirmation that would be the case in Tuesday night's 3-1 league defeat on the same ground. More...

GLADIATORS FALL AT THE HANDS OF LIKELY DIVISION CHAMPIONS. MATCH REPORT -
Sometimes it's a case of holding hands up and admitting the better side won! This was the case for away fans at Victory Park on Bonfire Night, as the fireworks came from Chorley, who completed a league double over Matlock More...

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