Pitchero Non League

Liam Wilkin

....League Premier Division defeat at Arnold Town last Saturday, but Matlock Town fans need not worry - he’ll be at the Reynolds Stadium next term.

The promising, speedy forward scored three goals in a couple of trial games for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division club in January and netted his first and so far only competitive goal in the 1-1 draw at Chasetown on March 20th. But then he was struck down with a rib injury.

“Liam needed the game and it won’t have done him any harm in scoring, we were happy for him to turn out for Winterton,” Matlock chief Mark Atkins explained.

“But he’ll be our player next season. He’ll be back for pre-season and we’ll be doing plenty of work with him as we feel he can offer us something different to what we’ve had in attack during this past season.”

Matlock need to act to pep up an attack which hit just fifty-two league goals last term, the joint third lowest in the division.

Ian Holmes scored seventeen in league and cup to finish as top scorer and pick up the Steven Greenhough Leading Goalscorer award.

“Those goals from Ian were really important for us,” Atkins reflected.

Atkins had to miss the recent presentation evening, but was full of praise for the award winners.

He added: “James Lukic has had a fantastic season and held the back four together brilliantly.

“He has been great in his first season as player coach, taking a prominent role in training and the pre-match warm ups.

“He’s gaining valuable experience for when he eventually stops playing but he’s got enough talent and time to play plenty more games at this level.”

The manager said he thought it would be a close call between Lukic and Jon Kennedy for the players’ player which Kennedy won.

“Jon winning it is no surprise, he’s very well liked and has been an excellent signing for us,” he said.

“Micky Harcourt won the young player and has done very well after stepping up a level. We expect more from him next season.”

And Atkins also gave Clubman Kris Witcombe a glowing tribute, adding: “I can’t say a bad word about the lad - he never lets us down and always gives us the full 100 per cent.

“He might not quite have the ability of others but he more than makes up for it with his commitment. He’s got a heart of gold, never moans and just gets on with things.”

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