Gladiators set for key fixtures in promotion race
Matlock Town face a hectic schedule of important games over the next fortnight as they aim to secure as high a finish as possible in the NPL Division One East.
The Gladiators sit second in the league following last weekend’s 3-0 win at Blyth Town, 14 points behind leaders Redcar Athletic but level on points with third-placed Emley, with a game in hand.
Should Redcar not be caught, which looks the most likely scenario, second place will be key to ensure a home play-off match in both the semi-finals and, if successful, the final.
Fellow play-off hopefuls Dunston are the visitors to the Proctor Cars Stadium on Saturday, before a home game next Tuesday night against struggling Bishop Auckland.
That’s then followed by a long trip to Heaton Stannington, who lay in seventh spot after the weekend’s matches, before Redcar are the hosts the following Wednesday in what will be a must-win game for Matlock if they are to have any chance of catching their opponents.
Ninth-placed Garforth are then the hosts on March 28 before Matlock host eight-placed Consett a week later, before the final four games see Matlock take on sides all currently in the bottom half of the table.
So the upcoming fixtures will be key to deciding where their destiny lies.
Saturday’s win came thanks to goals from Conor Washington, Cameron Wilson and Theo Upton, with Washington also seeing a penalty saved.
Boss Adam Clayton said: “I’ve always said that these games are potential banana skins if you are too complacent, as we’ve already seen earlier this season when we lost at Blyth Spartans having just beaten Redcar.
"But we put in a professional display and never really looked in any danger so I was pleased to secure the three points.”