Matlock Town boss Mark Atkins was still seething three days after watching his side succumb to their highest defeat of the season at Bradford Park Avenue last Saturday.

He gave a blunt assessment about the 5-2 loss in the Unibond Premier Division, agreeing that it was probably the worst Matlock performance since his arrival at Causeway Lane just over ten months ago and hinted that some of the squad might have tested his patience a little too much.

‘‘It was in all probability the worst performance in my time at Matlock and no-one can come out of the match with any credit.

‘‘There were no plus points and I was very very disappointed with the attitude of some of the players and with the way we played,’’ he said

A howling gale force wind made for horrendous conditions, but Atkins refused to use it as an excuse, nor did he point to the extra time FA Cup defeat and long trip to Bury in midweek.

Matlock won the toss, played with the wind in the first half but failed to capitalise and found themselves two goals down at half time through awful defending.

A Gareth Davies own goal was followed by Chris Hall having a free header.

Then within 38 seconds of the resumption, Hall scored another before Steve Warne reduced the deficit.

Two Rob O’Brien goals sandwiched a fine Ross Hannah effort to leave Avenue easy winners and the scoreline could have been more embarrassing if Adam Sollitt had not pulled off a trio of super saves.

‘‘We spoke beforehand of the need to use the wind to our advantage.

‘‘If we had it with us in the first half we said we needed to be positive, playing quick incisive football.

‘‘But we did just the opposite, the build up was slow and we allowed Bradford to get on top. It was plainly not just good enough.

‘‘There was no reaction from the cup defeat on Tuesday, the players are fit enough to be able to play Tuesday, Saturday, so there can be no excuses from that viewpoint either.

‘‘This is probably the first time that I can’t stand up for the players. We were poor all over the field. It came down to attitude, and it appeared to me that some of them looked at the conditions and didn’t want to know,’’ he said.

With tough games at King’s Lynn on Saturday, and at home to Retford United to come, Atkins will be looking to strengthen his squad.

‘‘I said to them on Saturday that this was their opportunity to stop me from getting new players in.

‘‘That was the response I got, so I’ll be looking to bring players in who want to push on and get us some results. I’ve an offer on the table for a player who could come in on loan from a Conference North club and I’ve spoken to a lot of people at clubs who are thinking things over with regard to coming to the club,’’ he said.

Matlock travel to Norfolk having slithered into a relegation spot, currently lying third from the foot of the UniBond Premier Division table.

An incentive for the Gladiators is the chance of a first league double of the campaign.

Matlock beat the Linnets in a tremendous game at Causeway Lane back on August 18 by a 3-2 margin thanks to goals from Ross Hannah, Mark Haran and Dene Cropper.

A water tight division sees King’s Lynn in fourth spot, but the gap between them and the Gladiators is only eight points and Matlock have three games in hand.

So if Matlock can string two or three good results together, they could make massive strides up the table.

Matlock will be without midfielder Gareth Davies against Retford through suspension, having accumulated five yellow cards.

It may be that Matty Thorpe, yet to start a game this season, may be given his opportunity even at King’s Lynn.

Atkins will be checking on fellow midfielder Danny Wood (shin) and defender Lee Featherstone (groin) at training tonight. Wood was forced off after 40 minutes at Bradford while Featherstone watched from the sidelines having left the field near the end of normal time at Bury.

While being highly critical of his players, Atkins had nothing but praise for the 60 or so Matlock supporters who travelled to the Horsfall Stadium.

‘‘Their support was first class, there was no heckling of the players. They kept on cheering and encouraging all the way through.

‘‘Really they had every right to call their team with a performance like that but they didn’t and I’d like to thank them for their support and apologise to every one of them on behalf of the players.’’

Meanwhile, former skipper and striker Simon Barraclough who left Causeway Lane to join Belper Town midway through last season, has been released by the Nailers having failed to rediscover the form which made him such a danger in his earlier years at Matlock.

http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/local/Atkins-lays-intohis-own-players.5711327.jp