But a lengthening injury list is not helping.

Ashley Foyle's knee injury is likely to require surgery, while Ryan Davis suffered whiplash in a car accident on his way to Tuesday's home game against Guiseley.

With Ryan Laight suspended, the makeshift centre half pairing of Lee Featherstone and Liam King, with midfielders Matty Thorpe and Matty Caudwell playing in the full back positions, fared pretty well against the unbeaten high-flyers, however.

"It was a tremendous performance from all the lads and they were really all buzzing in the dressing room afterwards," remarked Matlock joint-manager Gareth Williams.

"On chances we probably even deserved all three points but overall the final result was I suppose a fair reflection on the night's play."

A big bonus for Williams and managerial partner Phil Brown was the performance of young Shaun Pendleton who was thrown into the arena when Nathan Benger was forced off at half time.

Pendleton has been starring in the Gladiators reserve side, having been at Rotherham, and he can be proud of his first appearance in Matlock colours.

"He looked a very accomplished player and he did very, very well," said Williams.

"We're chuffed for him and it's fair to say that his performance will put him in the frame for selection at the weekend."

The Gladiators' defensive problems are likely to ease somewhat at Ossett Town on Saturday with Laight returning.

Matlock will hope that Nathan Benger, who turned an ankle just before half time on Tuesday, will have recovered sufficently to feature, but most likely missing along with Foyle are Jamie Jackson, who collected an ankle injury while setting up Matlock's equaliser at Marine and Davis, who was thankfully only shaken to add to the whiplash he suffered in the crash.

Striker Ross Hannah serves the last of his three-match ban.

Matlock are still busy trying to recruit a new central defender, but that probably won't be in time for Saturday.

Ossett will bring back memories of Matlock's 3-1 defeat at Ingfield last March, which was considered their worst performance of the season, save perhaps for the 5-1 New Year's Day mauling at Buxton.

"We were awful up there last season so we want to redress the balance," Williams continued.

"But we know we face a hard game.

"Despite their current low position, they're not a bad side, they work hard and put in a decent shift."

"It would be nice to get another good away result and the Guiseley performance will hopefully put us in good stead," he added.

"But, and we say this a lot I know, we've got a lot of young lads and I worry a bit about Saturday in the respect of what the Guiseley performance has taken out of them.

"They put in a hell of a lot of effort so we need to be mindful of what it might have taken out of them, so Thursday will see us train for half an hour or so and then go swimming to try and ease one or two aches and pains they might have.