We never got going - Mullen

Spartans midfielder Damen Mullen was open and honest in his assessment of his side's first loss of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League season by admitting Matlock Town deserved their win at Croft Park. A second half Joe Kendrick goal wasn't enough for Spartans and Mullen revealed he felt that a poor first half performance set the tone for the game.

"It was frustrating but we lost the game in the first half if we are honest with ourselves. They played well and took advantage of the wind when it was at their backs and we couldn't do that, we just didn't get started. We had chances but we couldn't put them away"

With an unbeaten run of four games behind them going into the game with the Gladiators there were high hopes that Spartans could extend that sequence. Mullen admitted that complacency may have played a part in the defeat but insisted that both he and his team mates would learn from the experience.

"When you look at our four games previous we could be sitting top of the league with maximum points. Unfortunately it hasn't work out that way and we weren't good enough today so you could say there was a bit of complacency but we have to learn from that"

Mullen and his team mates have the perfect opportunity to put the defeat behind them as they travel to West Yorkshire to face Frickley Athletic on Tuesday night. The midfielder is determined to ensure they come back to Northumberland with a positive result and get things back on track before Spartans welcome Grantham Town to Croft Park next Saturday.

"Once you have had a defeat you just want to get straight back and play again. Tuesday at Frickley Athletic is a chance to do that so we have to try and get a good result and start again"