Tuesday 11th November 2014
by Ian Richardson





EvoStik Premier Division
Matlock Town 1-1 Skelmersdale
Autoworld Arena, Saturday 8th November 2014, 3pm

Gladiators fans are unsure what to expect from their side at the moment, given their inconsistency.

They surely craved for a reaction and a much better all round performance from that served up in the FA Trophy replay humiliation at the hands of Halesowen four days earlier.

They got it, and while all three points would have been preferable, it was a gutsy display against the league leaders and Matlock totally deserved their point.

Matlock led thanks to a stunning strike from Niall McManus at the interval and had experienced few alarms from the visitors. The pattern changed after the break when having made a couple of half time changes, Skelmersdale had Matlock on the back foot and one of the substitutes, Danny Mitchley equalised with twenty minutes remaining.

Two new faces featured in the Matlock squad. Nineteen years old striker Charlie Dawes, on loan from Chesterfield, started alongside captain Danny Holland, while another striker, David Awomolo, promoted from the reserves, was on the bench.

David Haggerty did not feature, so in effect it was Dawes replacing Haggerty with Micky Harcourt moving to central defence and Joe Leesley reverting to a deeper role from the left.

Matlock started brightly and Holland tried his luck from fully forty yards in only the 2nd minute, his well intended strike narrowly clearing the bar. Then Holland did his best to set up Dawes with an intelligent knock down which was just out of the loanee's radar.

But Matlock were in front on 7 minutes when Skem goalkeeper Martin Fearon scuffed his clearance only as far as McManus, who instantly returned the ball with very rewarding interest, Fearon being stranded as the ball sailed over him and into the vacant net. This forty yard effort found the target!

1-0

Little was seen of the league leaders early on, they certainly did not have the look of a side with an eight points lead at the summit.

Matlock, with McManus and James Ashmore prominent, were bossing the midfield, their industry and desire standing out. In attack, Dawes looked prepared to chase anything and everything, he certainly made an impressive start, the only thing lacking from him was the goal he deserved for his tremendous work rate.

Skelmersdale did not manage a shot in anger until the 18th minute when Jon Kennedy comfortably gathered Scott Bakkor's low drive.

Matlock needed to remain calm and they did in a midfield battle which saw nothing of note in terms of opportunities until the 34th minute when follwing neat approach play from both Holland and Dawes, McManus lifted his shot too high.

When Skelmersdale attacked, Matlock quickly closed them down - denying them space - and if a shot did arrive, as it did from Bakkor on 39 minutes, the likelihood was that it would be harmless, as Bakkor's was, the ball sailing high over the bar on to the cricket pitch.

Skem won a couple of free kicks in the run up to the interval, both well defended as Wylie's effort was high and hopelessly off target and the second one from Alex Meaney was charged down.

So Matlock could be well satisfied with their work so far and deservedly held the lead.

HT: 1-0

Skem looked a different proposition in the second half and almost immediately made their intentions clear when Kennedy scrambled to his left to keep out a low shot from Meaney.

Danny Wisdom then saw his header cleared before the pressure was relieved in fine style by a clever combination between McManus and Dawes. The pair worked the ball intelligently around the visiting defenders on the right and it took a diving save at the near post from Fearon to keep out Dawes' daisycutter.

Then Adam Yates lunged to meet a free kick at the near post and saw his header fly wide. Yates would then make a fine interception at the other end to stop Bakkor in his tracks but the pressure was increasing.

Matlock were finally breached when Meaney's clever pass released Mitchley who held off his marker to fire across Kennedy, low into the far corner.

1-1

Now Skelmersdale looked favourites to go on and claim all three points but both sides held firm. A chance fell Matlock's way when substitute Lavell White ran clear only for referee Wilkes to bring play back and award Matlock a free kick and caution offender Phil Mooney.

The free kick came to nothing and the chance evaporated as quickly as it was created, on the deck of a surface which had played surprisingly well given the amount of rain which had been thrown down.

FT: 1-1

In the end a draw was just about fair and Matlock had regained a lot of credibility after their midweek horror show.

MATLOCK TOWN:
1 Jon Kennedy, 2 Lawrence Gorman, 3 Joe Leesley, 4 Adam Yates, 5 Micky Harcourt, 6 Oscar Radford (14 Josh Meade 71), 7 Niall McManus, 8 James Ashmore, 9 Danny Holland, 10 Charlie Dawes, 11 Corey Gregory (12 Lavell White 75)
Subs not used: 15 David Awomolo

SKELMERSDALE UNITED:
1 Martin Fearon, 2 Valtar Fernandes, 3 Danny Wisdom, 4 Peter Wylie, 5 Rob Bodie, 6 Aiden Kirkbride (14 Curtis Thompson 71), 7 Phil Mooney, 8 Alan Burton (12 Kenny Strickland), 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Conor McCarthy (15 Danny Mitchley 46), 11 Alex Meaney
Subs not used: 16 Michael Simpson 17 Josh Sumner

REFEREE: Matt Wilkes (Stourbridge)

ATTENDANCE: 230

BEST GLADIATOR: Niall McManus

RECENT STORIES

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MATLOCK SURRENDER TWO GOAL LEAD IN A SNOWY LOCAL DERBY AT BUXTON -
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More...

MATLOCK EARN A WELCOME 3 POINTS WITH 3 GOALS IN A 6 POINTER -
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MATLOCK CLIMB OUT OF BOTTOM FOUR AFTER SECOND SUCCESSIVE WIN -
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A WELCOME WIN FOLLOWING FIVE DEFEATS -
Matlock's joint interim boss Martin Foster praised the Gladiators players' spirit following the vital and welcome 3-1 victory at fellow strugglers Witton Albion last weekend. More...

MATLOCK WIN BATTLE OF THE EVOSTIK PREMIER'S TWO 'OUT OF FORM' TEAMS -
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MATLOCK MANAGER ATKINS RESIGNS FOLLOWING HEAVY HOME DEFEAT -
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More...

MATLOCK GO JOINT BOTTOM FOLLOWING HOME DEFEAT BY WHITBY TOWN -
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MONDAY'S FRIENDLY PROVES USEFUL FOR MATLOCK'S FRINGE PLAYERS -
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MATLOCK TOWN
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2 SOLID DRAWS BUT
0 SIGNINGS -
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IN-FORM STOKES INSPIRES MATLOCK TO VICTORY OVER BARWELL -
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GLADIATORS EARN DESERVED BANK HOLIDAY POINT AT BELPER -
Matlock's Man of the Match Jason Stokes scored a last gasp equaliser to add to Danny Holland's second headed goal of the local derby to earn Matlock a deserved point More...

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NEWS AHEAD OF A TOUGH BANK
HOLIDAY WEEKEND -
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A 'DISAPPOINTING' LOSS FOR MATLOCK'S FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON -
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TOUGH DECISIONS FOR MATLOCK BOSS AHEAD OF SEASON OPENER -
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MATLOCK NEWS ROUND UP AS INJURY CRISIS GETS WORSE -
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LEICESTER'S YOUNG GUNS TOO STRONG FOR WEAKENED GLADIATORS -
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MATLOCK MAKE IT FIVE PRE-SEASON WINS IN A ROW -
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MATLOCK NOTCH UP
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GLADIATORS BOSS ADMITS STRIKER'S DEPARTURE IS "A HUGE BLOW" -
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GLADIATORS HIT A SIX IN A PRE-SEASON GAMES BONANZA -
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MATLOCK TOWN GET RAMS, OWLS & FOXES VISITS AS WORKSOP TOWN RESIGN -
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ATKINS - 'STILL A LOT TO PLAY FOR' MATLOCK TOWN'S NEWS ROUND UP -
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A home banker turned into a nightmare for Matlock who were on the end of a shock defeat. Match Report More...

MATLOCK MARCH ON WITH A THIRD LEAGUE WIN IN A WEEK - AWAY AT ILKESTON -
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MATLOCK'S NEWS AS THEY PREPARE FOR LOCAL DERBY WITH ILKESTON -
Mark Atkins hailed a fantastic three days for Matlock Town and praised his players and the club's fans in the process. More...

MATLOCK EARN AN IMPRESSIVE FIFTH SUCCESSIVE HOME WIN -
Matlock's impressive home record was maintained as they earned a fifth successive win at the Autoworld Arena in a thrilling game with Grantham on Tuesday night. More...

MAGNIFICENT MATLOCK EARN THE WIN AGAINST SKELMERSDALE -
A magnificent performance from the boys in blue earned the hosts a deserved win against second in the table Skelmersdale, in spite of having to play the final sixty four minutes with only ten men. More...

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FOR A DEBUT WIN AT THE NEWLY NAMED AUTOWORLD ARENA -
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MATLOCK AGREE LUCRATIVE NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH AUTOWORLD -
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MATLOCK HIT FOR SIX AS THEIR UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN ABRUPT END -
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MATLOCK FACE SIX POINTER AT RUSHALL AS 2 NEW SIGNINGS ARE ANNOUNCED -
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GLADIATORS GO
FIVE UNBEATEN
WITH AWAY WIN AT FRICKLEY -
Matlock extended their unbeaten run to five games and secured their first away win in four months in terrible weather at Westfield Lane on Saturday. More...

GLADIATORS EARN A HARD FOUGHT WIN AT HOME TO DROYLSDEN. MATCH REPORT -
Matlock got the win everyone expected against the basement side, but it was a more difficult challenge than the 4-1 win at the Butchers Arms in October More...

THIS WEEK'S NEWS FROM MATLOCK AND
A PREVIEW OF THE DROYLSDEN GAME -
"We take nothing for granted" will be the message from Matlock boss Mark Atkins as they welcome basement club Droylsden to the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S MATCH AT STORMY STAMFORD
IS ABANDONED. MATCH REPORT -
Referee David Plowright halted proceedings after 23 minutes when a fierce thunderstorm engulfed the ground and left the pitch saturated. More...

McMAHON SCORES TWO TO GIVE MATLOCK THREE. MATCH REPORT -
Lewis McMahon's brace earned Matlock their victory, but others behind him put in sterling effort to ensure another clean sheet at home. More...

LATE PENALTY DENIES MATLOCK A WIN AFTER SCRAPPY ENCOUNTER -
A 78th minute penalty leveller denied Matlock all three points from a scrappy encounter at The Meres against Grantham Town. More...

MATLOCK NEWS AND PREVIEW OF SATURDAY'S AWAY TRIP TO GRANTHAM -
After ending high flying Worksop Town's unbeaten run at the thirteenth game, Matlock Town face a different challenge when they travel to Grantham on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S INABILITY TO FINISH COSTS THEM ANOTHER 3 POINTS -
For this week's report, see last weeks and probably many before! More points go astray for Matlock simply because they could not finish chances off. More...

MATLOCK'S DERBY DRAW IN THE DARK
AS BUXTON'S BULBS BLOW! -
The lights went out with a bang at the Silverlands to end this Boxing Day A6 derby early at half time. More...

MATLOCK GET THE CLEAN SHEET - BUT NOT THE THREE POINTS -
Again this was a tale of Matlock being unable to take the few chances that came their way in a dour stalemate at home against Marine. More...

ALL THE GLADIATORS' NEWS AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEK FIXTURES -
"Individual mistakes are killing us!" declared Matlock boss Mark Atkins after the disappointing and frustrating recent run of form More...

MATLOCK DEFEAT AT STOCKSBRIDGE WAS "LARGELY SELF INFLICTED" -
Matlock Town's disappointing defeat away to struggling Stocksbridge Park Steels, was largely self inflicted. More...

MATLOCK MAKE IT AN UNWANTED HAT TRICK WITH A THIRD CUP EXIT -
Matlock made it an unwanted hat-trick of cup exits against lower league opposition this term, as Glossop knocked them out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup. More...

MATLOCK GET THEIR FIRST WIN IN SIX AS THEY BEAT
TRAFFORD -
This first league win in six matches for Matlock Town was achieved with a little more difficulty than was envisaged at the half time break which came at a bad time for the home side. More...

MATLOCK HAVE 'ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME' AFTER
DEFEAT TO WITTON -
Matlock had only themselves to blame for not winning a game they dominated at Witton Albion. More...

MATLOCK MAKE HARD WORK OF A WIN OVER HALLAM IN MID-WEEK FRIENDLY -
The Gladiators made hard work of beating Toolstation NCEL First Division visitors Hallam, in a hastily arranged friendly game at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday night More...

MATLOCK SUFFER UNDESERVED FA TROPHY EXIT AT CHORLEY -
Chorley secured a hat-trick of victories against Matlock with this FA Trophy result at Victory Park last Saturday, but the 2-0 scoreline fails to tell the whole story as Matlock deserved at least a replay. More...

MATLOCK MAKE A POINT AGAINST HIGH FLYERS AFC FYLDE. MATCH REPORT -
Danny Holland had given Matlock a deserved interval lead against title contenders AFC Fylde, but the Coasters got a fortunate break five minutes into the second half to level through Andy Russell. More...

TOUGH FIXTURES AND A FAIR PLAY AWARD IN A GLADIATORS NEWS ROUND-UP -
If Monday's FA Trophy draw seemed tough - a visit to Chorley on November 16th - then Mark Atkins' men received confirmation that would be the case in Tuesday night's 3-1 league defeat on the same ground. More...

GLADIATORS FALL AT THE HANDS OF LIKELY DIVISION CHAMPIONS. MATCH REPORT -
Sometimes it's a case of holding hands up and admitting the better side won! This was the case for away fans at Victory Park on Bonfire Night, as the fireworks came from Chorley, who completed a league double over Matlock More...

Related Links

Matlock Town Website