Saturday's 2-0 home win against newly-promoted Cammell Laird saw the Gladiators leap six places up the UniBond Premier Division table from 18th to 12th and they will be keen to build on what was a much-needed victory.

Their third league win of the campaign was, strangely enough, very much like their earlier two against Whitby Town and Worksop Town, in that their performance failed to reach the heights of other games this season which have been lost or drawn.

Captain Simon Barraclough shot them in front on ten minutes but in a scrappy affair, it was not until stoppage time at the end of the game that substitute Dene Cropper's third goal of the season confirmed a home victory.

Joint boss Phil Brown was happy with the result, which Matlock needed badly after two successive league defeats which also followed an FA Cup exit at Ilkeston.

Midfielder Matty Thorpe earned man of the match rating thanks to a workmanlike performance in winning his tackles and then playing a simple but effective pass to begin many Matlock attacks.

His contribution since winning his place back in the starting line up was acknowledged by Brown.

''Matty's done very well. Initially he impressed when coming on as a substitute at Guiseley and at Ilkeston and deserved a starting chance. He's taken that chance, shown tremendous consistency and played really well in the last three games.''

Brown also praised his strikers with the Gladiators appearing to have many options with Ross Hannah, Barraclough, Cropper and Nathan Benger fighting for places.

The smaller Hannah and Barraclough were replaced by 6ft 2in Cropper and the not quite so tall Benger midway through the second half against Lairds.

In spite of a couple of heavy looking defeats lately, Brown says that there is a real togetherness within the squad.

''There's a fantastic spirit in the dressing room for the lads believe, like Gareth Williams and myself, that our performances have warranted more points than we've got so far. They're in it together and that's just what we're looking for.''

Marine have three more points than Matlock and are in seventh spot and there is another tough game for the Gladiators on Tuesday night when third-placed Guiseley visit Causeway Lane.

Both clubs recorded a league double over Town last season and if Guiseley avoid defeat at table-topping Ilkeston on Saturday, they will arrive in Derbyshire for the second time in three days as the division's only unbeaten side.

There will be changes to the Gladiators side with striker Ross Hannah starting a three-match ban following his red card against Boston United a fortnight ago.