Hucknall player boss ANDY LEGG struck just three minutes from time to deny Matlock in the Gladiators opening pre season friendly at a soggy Watnall Road on Saturday. The former Swansea, Birmingham and Welsh international midfielder found himself free to meet a left wing cross at the back post to fire firmly home from ten yards.

Despite the defeat there was a lot to encourage joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams. For long spells Matlock called the tune against a side a tier higher in the non league pyramid, but could just not find the killer touch in front of goal having created numerous opportunities. The starting line up was a familiar one apart from trialist Martin Taylor replacing the holidaying Andy Richmond in goal. Taylor had an excellent game and if signed, will prove to be an able deputy to Richmond. Steve Circuit and Glenn Kirkwood were back in the defence alongside James Lukic and Ryan Davis and in midfield Gary Webster was given a run in a central role with Mark Smith wide on the right. Ian Holmes operated down the left supporting Steve Taylor and Simon Barraclough. Dene Cropper didn't make his expected return due to personal commitments.

Matlock were soon on the attack with Holmes forcing a right wing cross just over the bar before an audacious 35 yard chip from Simon Barraclough on 12 minutes had goalkeeper Greg Smith scrambling back to see the ball hit the underside of the bar and bounce back out. Smith needed lengthy treatment, battling on until the interval before being replaced. It was a full 27 minutes before the Blue Square North side threatened as the awkward and hard working Ben Saunders drove wide after cutting in from the left. Just a minute later Holmes forced the distressed Smith to dive full length to tip aside a well struck blast before Webster curled an effort wide from the edge of the box.

Hucknall forced a corner when Paul Dempsey's shot was blocked by the excellent Ryan Davis with Kirkwood clearing off the line from Danny Bacon when the flag kick hit the danger zone. Then goalkeeper Taylor did well to block from the same player before the Gladiators ended the half strongly. Warne's great interception to cut out a Jermaine Hollis pass saw him charge down the right to cross for Steve Taylor whose on target header unfortunately was straight at Smith. Then on the stroke of half time Smith poked a fine chance wide when the ball dropped invitingly for him after a Barraclough effort had been blocked.

Both sides made a number of changes during the second half with Matlock's first seeing ex Shepshed midfielder Jordan Lambert being keen to impress when he replaced Steve Taylor, allowing Holmes to push on down the centre. After Martin Taylor had made a second vital block to keep out a Bacon effort, Lambert broke forward to shoot wide from the edge of the box. Holmes then saw his shot hacked off the line before the greasy surface hindered him as he tried to control a cross from Scott Ellis. Bacon saw Taylor make it a hat trick of fine stops before Nathan Benger could have twice won the match for the visitors, firstly firing weakly at the goalkeeper before a gilt edged chance was lost following sloppy Hucknall defending. Russell Cooke recovered quickly to force Benger's shot wide, before LEGG found the decisive strike.

A more than satisfactory display to start off Matlock's pre season programme and on the evidence of Saturday Hucknall have more to worry about than their UniBond neighbours.

MATLOCK TOWN: M Taylor (Bond 78) Circuit (Parker 76), Davis, Webster, Kirkwood, Lukic, Smith (Ellis 63), Warne (Goff 83), S Taylor (Lambert 55), Barraclough (Benger 76), Holmes (Lawton 86). Other subs: Hall, Mottershead
REFEREE: A Lindsay (Mansfield) ATTENDANCE: 150 (est) STAR MAN: Ryan Davis.