New boss Cresswell takes plenty of positives after Ashton defeat

Curtis Durose scored Matlock's second goal at Ashton. Photo: Michael South.Curtis Durose scored Matlock's second goal at Ashton. Photo: Michael South.
Curtis Durose scored Matlock's second goal at Ashton. Photo: Michael South.
Ryan Cresswell says there were lots of positives he could take from his opening game as Matlock Town boss – but also things that will need quick attention.

The Gladiators lost 3-2 at Ashton United but a draw wouldn’t have been an unfair result after a good second-half display that saw them score twice and give Ashton a nervy finish to the game.

And speaking afterwards, Cresswell said he was encouraged by much of what he saw.

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He said: “The work rate, the endeavour and the commitment were excellent and even at the very end it felt like we were going to get something.

"But ultimately we can’t gift goals in the manner in which we did. We’ve spoken about it and we know why that happened, so we’ll certainly put that to bed nice and early and push on now to the next one.”

Cresswell worked with assistant player-manager Shaun Brisley in picking the team for Tuesday’s game, Brisley having been joint-caretaker boss in the preceding matches, but his message was clear irrespective of how long he’d been in the job.

He said: “The message was that the non-negotiables were expected – work rate, commitment and effort, which I can’t fault any of them for to a man.

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"It was communication in the fine moments that cost us tonight and ultimately when you come to a team like Ashton United away, they’re not going to gift you too many goals and we gifted them three.

"They’re a good side and for the last 20 minutes of the first-half they really put us to the sword, but we started well and hit the bar early on before they took the ascendancy in the match.

"In the second-half, the next goal was vital and we got it and deserved it, but then had the wind taken out of our sails with the third Ashton goal and again it was fine detail that we’ll work on in training and try and put to bed the errors that have cost us so far.

"But there was plenty to build on and work on and I’m pleased with what I’ve got to work with.”

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Matlock now prepare to go back to Manchester on Saturday with a visit to FC United of Manchester, who also sit in the bottom four and parted company with manager Neil Reynolds last week.

Cresswell said: “It’s an early season six-pointer really. I’m not shirking away from the challenges – I think we’ve got enough in that dressing room and if we stamp out those individual errors then we’ll not be far off with this group of players.

"At the other end, we’ve created a lot of chances tonight so on another day, who knows?”

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