Matlock bounced back from their FA Cup debacle at Harrogate to get their league campaign back on track with a deserved win at soggy Coronation Park on Tuesday night.

They had gone five league matches without tasting victory and after establishing a two goal lead, they very nearly blew it as Eastwood scored both immediately before and immediately after the interval, but Matlock had the character to forage forward again soon afterwards to strike the deciding goal.

Changes were made in personnel and positions by joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams and their moves paid off. Ryan Laight and Ryan Davis swapped positions in defence with Paul Riley recalled at left back. This allowed Matty Caudwell to push forward into a wide attacking role with Neil Ashley and Steve Warne in central midfield. Steve Circuit was on the bench while Laurence Hall replaced Dene Cropper in attack .

The match got off to a tight start with little goalmouth action in the opening exchanges, but it was fast stuff as both sides competed strongly in a bid to gain supremacy.

And the Matlock fans, who made up at least half of the 322 crowd, would have been heartened as their side began to get a grip on proceedings, looking a much more efficient unit than on Saturday.

Both Caudwell and Riley charged up the left to cause untold problems for the Badgers defence who were unsettled further by the pace and workrate of Hall.

Home custodian Ian Deakin was fortunate to escape when he fumbled a Caudwell centre under fierce pressure from Hall on 16 minutes before the Gladiators winger cut in from the right after a half cleared corner to force Deakin to get his full weight behind a well struck shot.

But the pressure was mounting and the vital breakthrough came when the overlapping Riley delivered a delicious cross which HALL rose to nod right into the corner of the net for a brilliantly taken goal, his first for the club.

 Liam Hearn had Eastwood's first shot of note soon afterwards but it finished well over the bar and it was soon Matlock probing again and when Simon Barraclough and Gary Webster had engineered a 34th minute chance for Steve Warne, the former Spireite took the ball in his stride to rifle a 16 yard effort just inches wide.

Barraclough's attempt from the edge of the box was charged down after Hall had again worked unselfishly to create the opening, but Matlock doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute.

Barraclough was felled by a clumsy challenge on the right and Warne swung in the free kick for the onrushing JAMES LUKIC to comprehensively beat Deakin with a power packed header.

But instead of going in for their half time refreshment comfortable at 2-0, Matlock conceded a sloppy effort some twenty seconds before the whistle when CRAIG SWINSCOE netted with a low diagonal strike after a throw on the left had been poorly dealt with.

That goal lifted a Badgers side who had not been at the races and debut boy MATT RHEAD gave the visitors further worries with a 48th minute leveller, slamming in the loose ball after his initial header had been knocked off the line.

 Eastwood suddenly looked favourites, but credit due again to Matlock for showing character to regain their lead four minutes later.

 Deakin had palmed away Barraclough's hook for a corner and as the pressure was maintained, CAUDWELL cut in to notch his opening Matlock goal with a low shot past the unsighted Deakin, who may have ben distracted by Hall's decoy run.

Now Matlock needed to be strong and work hard and they did just that although it must be said, with an odd scare along the way. Barraclough dug out a low ball in from Riley to push narrowly past a post while on the floor and Caudwell again cut in to fire a couple of feet past the opposite upright.

But Eastwood responded as Rhead headed across goal for Swinscoe to nod wide and Richmond did well to turn aside Deon Meikle's 15 yard snap shot. With a couple of minutes to go, Meikle stretched to lift his brother Leon's low ball high over the bar and that was Eastwood's last chance as Matlock sensibly and legitimately retained possession well, aiming for the corner flags.

It begged the question as to why Matlock could not have given their fans this performance up in Yorkshire three days earlier. Here they looked hungry and determined, doing much to put the FA Cup defeat behind them. Now they will look to carry on the good work in Saturday's FA Trophy clash at Stamford.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Riley, Ashley, Davis, Lukic, Webster, Warne, Hall, Barraclough, Caudwell. Subs-all unused: Circuit, Kirkwood, Pidcock.

REFEREE: G M Brittain (Beckingham)  ATTENDANCE: 322 STAR MAN: Matty Caudwell.