Gladiators fixtures released

The fixtures were finally released on Monday lunchtime after a five day delay caused by unforeseen circumstances at fixture compilers ATOS.

The Gladiators will be looking to get of to a good start against the Dabbers who have been beaten at the Reynolds Stadium for the past two seasons. Then comes a great opportunity for Matlock to put to bed their disappointing away form of 2011/2012 for three days later on Tuesday August 21 they travel to Frickley Athletic for their first away game.

Matlock only won twice on their travels last term and one of these came at Frickley last August when goals from T J Nightingale and James Lukic gave them a comfortable 2-0 success.

August ends with the Bank Holiday games at FC United of Manchester on Saturday August 25 and at home to Rushall Olympic on the Monday.

The Rushall fixture is reversed on Boxing Day while on New Years Day the Gladiators host Buxton. In between these two games Matlock visit Worksop Town on Saturday December 29. The return game against Buxton is at Silverlands on Easter Monday, April 1, while they face their other Derbyshire opponents Ilkeston FC at the New Manor Ground on Saturday November 17, with the return game being the season’s final match at the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday April 27.

AUGUST.

Sat 18 NANTWICH TOWN (H)

Tue 21 Frickley Athletic (A)

Sat 25 FC United of Manchester (A)

Mon 27 RUSHALL OLYMPIC (H)

SEPTEMBER

Sat 1 Stafford Rangers (A)

Tue 4 FRICKLEY ATHLETIC (H)

Sat 8 HOLBROOK SPORTS / DEEPING RANGERS/ BELPER TOWN (H)-FA Cup 1Q Sat 15 BLYTH SPARTANS (H) Tue 18 Grantham Town (A) Sat 22 FA CUP 2 Q Sat 29 Eastwood Town (A) FA Trophy 1Q

OCTOBER

Sat 6 North Ferriby United (A)

Tue 9 HEDNESFORD TOWN (H)

Sat 13 EASTWOOD TOWN (H)

Wed 17 Ashton United (A)

Sat 20 Stocksbridge Park Steels (A)

Tue 23 CHORLEY (H)

Sat 27 F A Trophy 2Q

Tue 30 AFC FYLDE (H)

NOVEMBER

Sat 3 Marine (A)

Sat 10 WITTON ALBION (H)

Sat 17 Ilkeston FC (A)

Sat 24 KENDAL TOWN (H)

DECEMBER

Sat 1 Whitby Town (A)

Sat 8 STAFFORD RANGERS (A)

Sat 15 Nantwich Town (A)

Sat 22 FC UNITED of MANCHESTER (H)

Wed 26 Rushall Olympic (A)

Sat 29 Worksop Town (A)

JANUARY

Tue 1 BUXTON (H)

Sat 5 Blyth Spartans (A)

Sat 12 GRANTHAM TOWN (H)

Sat 19 Hednesford Town (A)

Sat 26 NORTH FERRIBY UNITED (H)

FEBRUARY

Sat 2 ASHTON UNITED (H)

Sat 9 Eastwood Town (A)

Sat 16 STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS (H)

Sat 23 League Cup Quarter Finals

MARCH

Sat 2 Chorley (A)

Sat 9 Kendal Town (A)

Sat 16 WHITBY TOWN (H)

Sat 23 League Cup Semi Finals

Sat 30 WORKSOP TOWN (H)

APRIL

Mon 1 Buxton (A)

Sat 6 AFC Fylde (A)

Sat 13 MARINE (H)

Sat 20 Witton Albion (A)

Sat 27 ILKESTON FC (H)

Matlock’s pre season friendly programme got under way at Teversal on Tuesday and on Saturday the Gladiators are just a few miles up the road from Teversal against another Baris NCEL First Division outfit, Shirebrooik Town.

Then on Tuesday night comes the eagerly awaited Banner Jones Cup game with Chesterfield at the Reynolds Stadium (7.45 pm). A bumper crowd is expected and supporters are asked to arrive earlier than usual to avoid congestion at the turnstiles.