JOINT boss Gareth Williams had only been on the field for two minutes before his cracking left foot drive from the edge of the box flashed past Old Boys goalkeeper Tom Nicholson and just inside the post to hand Matlock victory at the Euronics Ground on Saturday.

Mark Smith and Simon Barraclough combined sweetly in the 79th minute to lay the ball into Williams' path and the veteran did not seek a second invitation to bury his shot with aplomb.
It proved to be a useful work out for the Gladiators against an industrious Northern Counties East League First Division outfit which proved to be a tough nut to crack.

And early on, the better chances fell to the Old Boys as Gareth Dickenson fired wide and William Mail shot straight at Andy Richmond following a penetrating central through pass from Nathan White.

Then on 27 minutes a free kick from skipper Sam Sharman foiled everyone and Mail lost his composure to blast high and wide from close range. Matlock had been on the back foot for the opening half hour before Steve Taylor's low left footer forced a good low save from Nicholson and after Neil Ashley's effort had bobbled harmlessly wide, former Bridlington Town
centre back Craig Suddaby cleared off the line from Ian Holmes.

Mail's finishing was again awry as the interval approached which saw the Gladiators make wholesale changes. They fielded virtually two separate teams. The start of the second half saw the welcome return of long term injury victim Dene Cropper who soon saw action in the Barton penalty box, but Mark
Smith's low cross eluded him at the last moment.

A good chance went begging when Nicholson looked to have cut out Steve Circuit's through pass, the ball quickly rebounding to Simon Barraclough who knocked the ball miles past the post.
Trialist Lawrence Hall twice came close and a Paul Riley free kick drifted narrowly wide as the Gladiators got on top. Nicholson held a powerful Ryan Davis header before a strong run from deep by Barraclough saw his well struck 20 yard drive beat Nicholson but bounce agonisingly the wrong side of the goalkeeper's right hand post.

Then came Williams' match winner before the contest ended with Matlock understandably in the ascendancy as Cropper forced a late effort wide.

Matlock Town: Richmond (M Taylor 46), Parker (Barraclough 46), Austin (Ripley 46), Ashley (Circuit 46), Kirkwood (Lukic 46), Davis, Goff (Smith 46), Warner (Williams 77), Holmes (Hall 46), S Taylor (Cropper 46), Loukes (Lambert 46).

Att: 80 (approx).