Match Reports

After a decent first half display in which they took the lead through Simon Barraclough's penalty, Matlock appeared to run out of steam after the interval and went down to yet another away defeat.

The Gladiators have the worst away record in the division, their last maximum point haul coming at Lincoln United back on November 17. When they went ahead at the impressive Keys Park arena, hopes were high that their recent disappointing set of results on their travels could be dramatically improved, but the Pitmen drew level seconds before the interval before securing the points thanks to poor Matlock defending in the second half.

A group of Town fans had walked the near fifty miles from Derbyshire through the night in aid of the New Stand Appeal, showing remarkable tenacity and stamina, qualities evident in the Good Friday win over Buxton, but sadly not reproduced in the second half here. Victory would have seen Town with a chance of slipping into eighth spot and virtual safety and while some clubs below them have it all to do, the Gladiators still have some work to do yet to confirm their Premier Division status for 2008/09.

Work commitments ruled out Paul Riley so Ruben Wiggins-Thomas was in from the start for the first time with Steve Taylor retaining the place he gained after Stef Frost's horific injury against Buxton. Sheffield University student Daniel Williams was on the bench, accompanying Steve Circuit and joint boss Phil Brown.

Matlock stood up well to early Hednesford pressure which saw striker Ross Dyer fire over the bar before Simon Barraclough drove well wide at the other end. home midfielder Chad Sheppard placed his effort wide after Wayne Dyer had pulled the ball invitingly back from the bye-line, but in a nip and tuck first period, a diving header by Ben Kistell from a Barraclough cross to the near post was narrowly off target.

Shortly afterwards Barraclough showed tremendous skill inside the Hednesford penalty box to turn quickly and the Pitmen were grateful to goalkeeper Paul Evans for keeping out the powerful strike after Barraclough had left both Rob Davies and Ben Brown trailing.

But it was Hednesford who came closest when Andy Richmond punched clear as far as Sheppard who crashed a shot on to the bar.

Matlock then swept upfield immediately to go in front on 39 minutes as a storming athletic run by Wiggins-Thomas ended with an injudicious challenge by full back Ross Adams who was adjudged to have fouled the Gladiators midfielder. Adams was booked and BARRACLOUGH stepped up to comfortably beat Evans with a low drive from the spot.

Hednesford replied with vigour as Richmond pulled off a fine save to deny Davies but wit the half time whistle looming, the Pitmen found the equaliser, also a penalty.

Ross Dyer released Alan Naginton who went down under Cameron Fearon's tackle. Referee Keane immediately pointed to the spot and SHEPPARD made no mistake from twelve yards. There was barely time for play to restart before the half time whistle shrilled and the equaliser proved to be a tonic for the Pitmen and a blow for the Gladiators in terms of what would follow in the second half.

Just five minutes in Matlock were behind as Richmond could only parry Rob Davies' strike from the right and ANTHONY McGUIRE, reacting the quickest, turned in the loose ball.Hednesford then appealed for another penalty when Richmond and Naginton tangled but the referee saw nothing wrong.

Matlock needed to compose themselves and rediscover their energy levels of the prevous two and a half games but their task was made even more dificult with a third Hednesford goal in the 65th minute.

Ross Dyer was not effectively challenged in the Gladiators penalty box and he held the ball up splendidly for the onrushing DAVIES to run in and shoot beyond Richmond.

Dyer then did well to set up namesake Wayne who fired inches too high, before Barraclough showed he was still a threat from a half chance which saw him fire narrowly too high. It was a great attempt by him.

An opening presented itself to substitute Williams whose shot from the edge of he box was on target but unfortunately for him and the visitors, straight at Evans. then Barraclough again came close as Evans scrambled back across his goal with the Gladiators striker's shot bouncing beyond the back post.

But again away from home Matlock had not showed the steel or high concentration level required to repel the hosts threat, which was a shame as in the first half they looked more than capable of bringing home a point.

A tough three days awaits them with visits to Gateshead and Ashton. At Gateshead in particular, they know they will be punished if they don't learn from the mistakes at Hednesford.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Fearon, Davis, Benger, Laight, Lukic, Wiggins-Thomas, Thorpe (Circuit 69), Taylor (Williams 69), Barraclough, Kistell. Other sub: Brown.