GUISELEY 2-0 MATLOCK TOWN
Two second half goals, the final one coming just a minute from the end, condemned Matlock to defeat in a scrappy UniBond League Premier Division season's opener at Nethermoor last Saturday.
For just over fifty minutes Matlock gave as good as they got and at times looked the better side, but once the Lions had gone in front on 52 minutes, Matlock's challenge evaporated. The second goal flattered the hosts though as Matlock weree certainly not two goals worse than last season's fourth placed club and League Cup winners.
Manager Mark Atkins opted for a 4-4-2 formation handing debuts to Adam Sollitt, Mark Haran and Gareth Davies.As was feared, James Lukic was not fit to partner Haran in central defence, so Ryan Laight was again included. Jamie Jackson had to be content with a place on the substitutes bench which also housed promising youngster Darren Cartwright.
Matlock had to face a stiff wind in the opening half and there was little goalmouth activity to whet the appetite of the 305 strong crowd in the opening exchanges.
David Briggs drove wide from distance after Ryan Laight had knocked away a throw from the left and Matlock's first chance came on 10 minutes when Ross Hannah was fouled some twenty five yards out. Danny Wood curled the free kick wide.
It took a speculative effort to extend either goalkeeper for the first time on 13 minutes when a hopeful ball in from the left by Jerome Fitzgerald was turned aside by Sollitt. The offside flag stopped James Walshaw who stroked the ball into the net before Liam Kinghad to stretch to force away a cross from the left.
Dene Cropper was winning most of the high balls and he showed his prowess on the ground also when he cleverly released Wood on the right with Guiseley clearing their lines with some difficulty. Mention here to referee Coy who played a great advantage and then correctly returned to book Fitzgerald for a reckless lunge on Cropper in this incident.
Wood provided the first on target shot from either side which was straight at Worsnop on 38 minutes. Two minutes later new Lions defender Martin McIntosh headed a free kick tamely wide at the back post, but Matlock came closest to snatching an interval lead. Cropper fed Hannah who shot fiercely goalwards but Worsnop produced a superb block save from an attempt which looked to have goal written all over it.
The half ended with Sollitt competently saving from Adam Muller who had been put through in a central position, but Matlock would leave for their half time refreshments exstremely satisfied with their efforts thus far.
They also began the second half on the offensive and when Hannah broke down the left in the 48th minute to cross into the danger area, Worsnop scrambled aside King's diving header. A promising situation fizzled frustratingly out when a Davies free kick was both handsomely high and wide.
But the match changed when Guiseley went in front against the run of the play in the 52nd minute, and it was a scrappy goal in keeping with the game so far. Lee Tuck found room on the left to fire in a cross which MULLER stretched to stab home.
Now Matlock had it all to do if they were to earn anything and sadly there was little in their tank. Guiseley took over and comfortably kept the Gladiators at arms length. Walshaw had a drive well blocked by Davies and Sollitt held Steve Burton's shot as Guiseley gained the upper hand for the first time in the match.
Matlock replaced Davies with Jackson to give them more width but were unable to mount any sustained attacks.In fact they had to defend for much of the remainder of the game. Haran superbly headed away a teasing centre from Dave Merris and when Tuck got the better of Scott Brough, Laight did equally well to charge down Walshaw's drive. The striker then shaved the bar from the edge of the box before looping a header over the bar.
Riley came on for Wood and Matlock pushed Haran forward in what turned out to be a vain bid to find an equaliser. Guiseley capitalised by breaking speedily to earn an 89th minute corner which JAMES COTTERILL forced untidily in to wrap up the three points for the hosts.
Referee Coy handled the match with common sense, adding Matlock's King for a foul on Burton and Walshaw for kicking the ball away into his notebook to make it three cautions.
Matlock will take comfort from the opening fifty minutes but will be disappointed with a muted response once they had gone behind. Given the difficulty of this opening game, defeat was possibly expected, but on the day Guiseley were nothing special. \They will though, be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign in what looks to be again a very tough and competitive division.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Brough, Featherstone, King, Haran, Laight, Wood (Riley 81), Warne, Cropper, Hannah, Davies (Jackson 63). Other subs: Cartwright, Yates, Buxton.
REFEREE: M Coy--Durham ATTENDANCE: 305. STAR MAN: Mark Haran.
