Armthorpe Welfare 1-1 Matlock Town
Honours finished even on a wet Doncaster night as an unfamiliar Gladiators line up battled hard to earn a draw against thir Koolsport North East Counties League Premier Division hosts.
Manager Mark Atkins selected a clutch of youngsters and trialists, also naming goalkeeping coach Nick Buxton between the posts. And the youngsters generally performed well, although late on Matlock had to withstand a bout of stiff pressure after the Welfare had levelled the scores through BRUNO HOLDEN after 61 minutes.
ROSS HANNAH had seen a flicked header then a shot pass wide before he a brought down by Craig Morley in the 20th minute. The penalty was struck true and firm beyond home goalkeeper Andy Pettinger.
Armthorpe showed plenty of spirit and right back Ashley Foyle deflected a fierce blast from Henry Sibenge for a corner after being found on the left by a long raking crossfield pass.
But Matlock had a chance to double their advantage in the 32nd minute as Dene Cropper latched on to a through pass with the bounce beating his marker but with Hannah up alongside him in support, Cropper could not find the telling ball and Morey was back to nick the ball of his toes for an unproductive corner.
After Holden fired over, Sibenge tried his luck again but Buxton's positioning was exemplary as he comfortbly held the winger's power packed shot.
The half end with a carbon copy of the Sibenge / Buxton action of a few minutes earlier, just a minute after youngster Danny Gregory's shot had bounced off post following a poor clearance.
Hannah drove wide and Pettinger punched awy a teasing Shaun Pendleton free kick under pressure from substitute Nathan Benger in the opening minutes after half time, but Armthorpe upped the pace and eventually drew level when HOLDEN broke through the insid right channel to fire beyond Buxton.
Holden was a constant threat as with the slope against them, Matlock had to dig deep to preserve parity. The burly Welfare front man tested Buxton again in a swift break after Matlock had made a mess of a right wing corner and the visitors were relieved to see the assistant's flag raised or offside as Holden found the net once more with ten minutes to go.
Matlock held firm to earn a hard fought draw. Some of the youngsters such as Gregory in his forty five minutes and left back Lewis Jackson showed up well as the game proved to be a useful exercise.
MATLOCK TOWN: Buxton, Foyle, Jackson, Thorpe, Storer, Laight, Edwards, Pendleton, Cropper, Hannah, Gregory. Subs: Benger, Pheasant, Shaw, Wain, Atkinson, Clarke.
REFEREE: C Akers--Armthorpe. ATTENDANCE: 52
