Hucknall 2-2 Matlock Town
Two goals up inside the first twenty minutes, Matlock looked all set for their first away win of the season. But battling Hucknall had other ideas. The Yellows pulled one back within five more minutes and then equalised with a little over twenty minutes to go, to earn a deserved share of the spoils.
Gladiators boss Mark Atkins, clearly upset with the ineffective performance in the home defeat to North Ferriby on Saturday, made two noteable changes which saw James Lukic make his long awaited return to captain the side and replace Ryan Laight in defence, and omit skipper Steve Warne from the starting line up bringing in new signing Ben Algar down the left.. Warne and Laight were both named as substitutes.
Hucknall included former Gladiators Gary Sucharewycz at the heart of their defence and Scott Ellis on the right flank. Reuben Wiggins-Thomas was on the bench.
Matlock nearly took a dramatic 1st minute lead as Ross Hannah crossed from the right and the stretching Dene Cropper stretched every sinew to meet it with a low drive which home keeper Daniel Haystead grasped just before it was to cross the line.
Typical of what was to follow came in Hucknall's reposte which saw Terry Hawkridge speed down the left and Lee Featherstone had to shepherd the cross away for a corner. A second flag kick quickly followed which Sucharewycz rose to head down and Lee Whittington, who once had a trial at Matlock, but chose to join Scarborough instead, hooked over the bar.
But Matlock made a 6th minute corner count as Danny Wood hoisted the ball menacingly in from the left and MARK HARAN, once with Hucknall, stormed in to plant a downward header past Haystead for his second goal of the season.
As the Gladiators looked to build on that advantage, Algar was a regular outlet, consistently beating full back Fabian Smith and delivering some excellent low crosses which to their credit, the home defence dealt admirably with. The last of three Algar centres ended with Haystead being well placed to hold a strike from Liam King.
Wood limpedoff in only the 12th minute and significantly it was Warne who came on as Gareth Davies switched to the right and the club skipper in the middle. Hannah, whose pace was a threat all evening had two bites of the cherry on 16 minutes but Haystead was equal to the shot. The goalkeeper and Hannah met up again four minutes later and HANNAH came out on top.
Racing through the middle beyond the trailing Hucknall defenders, he was taken out by Haystead on the edge of the box and after a delay which saw the keeper booked, the former Belper striker rammed the penalty firmly past Haystead's despairing dive. The keeper had guessed the right way and made a brave attempt to save.
It looked plain sailing but inside five more minutes the hosts had a lifeline. With the experienced Laurie Wilson instrumental in many of their best moves, Hucknall attacked down the left and WHITTINGTON was allowed too much time and space to measure a cross shot beyond Sollitt from the edge of the box.
Now it was most definitely game on. Cropper drove at Haystead after being well picked out by Brough and then at the other end Smith's teasing ball in from the right was a touch too strong for Tyiesse (TJ) Nightingale.
Algar was fast impressing the visiting support with his trickery and after being found superbly by Hannah, he cut in only to hit a right footer high and wide of the back post. Smith tried to quieten him with a shocking tackle and was booked.
Straight after the restart Algar was fouled again and Davies' lofted free kick was met by Cropper's head and Haystead had to tip the ball desperately over.
Then it was Sollitt's turn to shine as the former England non league international splendidly pushed a Hawkridge 22 yard blast over the bar for a corner headed out as far as Wilson who cut in and fired comfortably wide.
As the pressure contonued on the Matlock goal, Sollitt moved smartly to grab a Lukic back header and following three successive corners, more great defending, this time from Haran saw the assistant boss hack off the line from Whittington.
But then came two pivotal moments. Matlock might have stretched their lead when Haystead fumbled a corner and was grateful for Smith's intervention a foot from the line. Hucknall broke quickly and after Sollitt had magnificently blocked ANTWON BONNICK's first effort, the substitute was on to the loose ball in a flash to riflre a fifteen yard cross shot into the far corner.
So with twenty one minutes still to play, the pendulum had swung in Hucknall's favour.
The hosts played some great intricate passing football on the floor which at times Matlock were struggling to cope with and the booking of Davies for a strong challenge on Wilson, something the non purist would say was overdue, was deserved. Shortly afterwards Hawkridge joined him for jumping in at Brough.
Matlock recovered some composure to fashion a 78th minute opportunityas Warne and Hannah combined on the right for the latter who was really looking for a touch more bend and power in his shot which Haystead stopped with relative ease.
Featherstone completed referee Newbold's booking count for dissent at a free kick which was scrambled clear and then Haran used all of his experience to calmly clear a Hawkridge centre.
But the final two opportunities fell to the Gladiators as Algar released Hannah who was crowded out before Warne, from the edge of the box, drove a foot over the bar.
A draw was probably a fair outcome from a splendid match for the neutral. Matlock's commitment was much better than on Saturday, but having got themselves into a winning position, they will be kicking themselves for not completing the job.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Brough, Featherstone, King, Haran, Lukic, Wood (Warne 12), Davies, Cropper, Hannah, Algar. Other subs: Yates, Laight, Jackson, Buxton.
REFEREE: A Newbold--Loughborough ATTENDANCE: 291 STAR MAN: Ross Hannah.
