How do you avoid string.match giving off few matches after several messages to print what matches mostly?

Clearly, I have this code written, after while of several messages; it gives off short phrases.

Before:

for i in string.gmatch("#$ (hs nW E RJ3$od jC$( P: F: K3dA", "%a") do
   print(i)
end

--// Console Results
--[[
10:54:08   -- hs
10:54:08   -- nW
10:54:08   -- jC
10:54:08   -- F
10:54:08   -- dA
10:54:08   -- e
--]]

After:

for i in string.gmatch("#$ (hs nW E RJ3$od jC$( P: F: K3dA", "%a") do
   print(i)
end

--// Console Results
--[[
10:57:02   -- hs
10:57:02   -- K
10:57:02   -- da
--]]

Something went wrong afterwards. What should I improve?