Carlton Town 0-1 Matlock Town
There were two major surprises for Matlock fans attending Saturday's friendly at Stoke Lane. Jamie Jackson is back with the Gladiators coming off the bench to score the winning goal midway though the second half, and striker Nathan Benger has moved to Glapwell.
James Lukic's tendonitis complaint had not cleared sufficiently for him to play so manager Mark Atkins paired Adam Yates with Ryan Laight in central defence. Trialist Lee Stratford was given another run at left back and Steve Warne, back of holiday, teamed up with Liam King in central midfield. With Benger gone, Dene Cropper partnered Ross Hannah, both strikers having recovered from knocks in the week.
On another sunny day in Nottingham (the sun always shines when Matlock play at the Bill Stokeld Stadium), Matlock contended well with early Carlton pressure although winger Danny Blair drove narrowly wide of the far post in an early home raid. Having lost twice to UniBond First Division opposition twice in the previous seven days, the Gladiators were intent on not making it an unwanted hat-trick of defeats against a side defeated in the UniBond First Division play off semi final last term.
Goalkeeper Adam Sollitt was calming influence on the rest of his troops, handling confidently and dishing out advice to his defenders. Yates and Laight generally kept strikers Justin Jenkins and Tris Whitman quiet, so much that they were both substituted at half time.
Matlock were also more industrious in midfield through the energy of Warne and King while Gareth Davies worked hard in an unfamiliar role on the left. More penetration is needed though from the flanks.
The better opportunities fell to Matlock and by that fact the visitors deserved their slender victory. Carlton had to rely on goalkeeper Ali Barchareni acting as a sweeper as Hannah dashed through the centre before on 15 minutes the goalkeeper was beaten when Cropper skipped past him and shot from an acute angle with Craig Swinscoe booting clear off the line. In between it had needed Terry Henshaw to head a Scott Brough centre behind as Cropper closed in.
Referee Leslie failed to apply the advantage clause, halting play for a free kick when King burst through the centre. Danny Wood fired straight at Barcharni. Then on 25 minutes Swinscoe made his second goal-line clearance, this time to deny Hannah who beat Barcharini after a swiftly executed free kick.
Matlock's best move so far in the 34th minute was a serie of intricate passes on the turf ending with Brough slotting wide with only Barcharini to beat. Hannah di likewise four minutes later after excellent build up play by Warne.
The half ended with a Blair free kick sailing high over Sollitt's bar and home midfielder Dan Moore being asked to leave the field to calm down after an overly zealous challenge on Brough.
After a quiet opening to the new half Carlton finally built up a head of steam to put Matlock under pressure for virtually the first time in the match.Brough was forced to concede corner as he shepherded away a dangerous cross from Aidan Brady. A second corner quickly followed as Sollitt palmed away the teasing delivery.
On came Jackson and Paul Riley but Carlton came again and Martin Ball rose to nod wide a left wing cross from Paul Mitchell when Matlock switched off for the only time in the 61st minute.
Five minutes later though they were in front as JACKSON was found superbly by King's slide rule pass to leave his marker for dead an tuck his shot under replacememt keeper Andy Cherry.
A Carlton reply never looked on as Matlock worked hard nd solidly to preserve their lead. It had been a much better showing by the Gladiators and onehich will need to be repeated away from home when the season begins in earnest.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Brough, Stratford (Riley 59), King, Yates, Laight, Wood, Warne, Cropper Thorpe 77), Hannah, Davies (Jackson 59) Subs not used: Featherstone, Buxton, Foyle, Clarke, Cartwright, Storer.
REFEREE: M Leslie--Ruddington ATT: 60--est.
