Mark Hume demands improvement from Matlock Town players

The Gladiators were dumped out of this season’s FA Trophy after a 2-0 defeat at Nantwich leaving them free to focus on improving their league position.

“This squad of players should be pushing for the top part and even the play-offs, if not they’re underachieving,”. said Hume.

“When our injuries clear I’m confident we can get the results we need to get up that table.

“We need to get our league position right, the cups can get in the way, yet we want to be in them. I’ve told the players there’s no excuses now, we’ve got to kick on in the league by knuckling down and getting results. We want to play well, of course we do, but at the end of the day results are all that matter.”

A first half free-kick and a second half penalty were sufficient to knock out an injury-hit Matlock side.

“It was a poor game from both teams, I felt we didn’t deserve to be behind at half-time, but it was a very good free kick,” added Hume.

“Unfortunately we hadn’t too much on the bench to change things. Don’t get me wrong the reserve lads have done well but they’re not ready yet for the men’s league week in, week out.”

Hume added that there could be at least one new signing ahead of Saturday’s trip to Colwyn Bay which gets the Gladiators festive fixtures under way.

He said: “We’ll look a good deal stronger when the injured lads start to come back, Jason adds competition in that he can challenge for the right back spot with Micky Harcourt and even slot in comfortably on the right of midfield.

“Daniel’s a big strong lad who can hold the ball up well and with Alex Peterson in the frame as well we should have added firepower.

“Laurie Wilson shouldn’t be far off a return, we’ve missed him whether it’s at the back or in midfield and along with Danny Holland and Micky Harcourt he’s the voice of our side. We’ve got other good players but they’re not vocal like these three who’ve all been out recently.”

Hume is confident his squad can recover from a four game losing sequence to go on a good run which can shoot them up the table.

A good start would be three points at Colwyn Bay who are currently rooted in the relegation zone.

Matlock,in 17th spot, have a nine point lead over the third bottom Welshmen and also have a game in hand, having only played three league matches since a 2-2 draw at Salford City on October 27.