Match Reports

An improved performance from Matlock in which they had to dig in hard at times, brought them a welcome point at Harrison Park, to halt their losing sequence which stood at four matches prior to the kick off.

Leek, who had struggled for much of the campaign, were boosted by their first home league win against Worksop just four days earlier, and they were clearly intent on quickly grabbing a second victory against the Gladiators. They had the lion's share of the play, but this time Matlock were strong defensively and had goalkeeper Martin Taylor in fine form behind. And while no-one at the Geoquip Stadium will be shouting from the roof tops that the corner has been turned, neveretheless it is a step in the right direction.

The Gladiators made three changes to the side which went down against Guiseley. Cameron Fearon replaced Tommy Hannigan in defence, with Ryan Laight moving across to partner James Lukic in the centre to allow Fearon to slot in at right back. Steve Circuit returned in central midfield and Nathan Benger was given a start there with him to try and provide the attacking flair. Neil Ashley and flu victim Ben Kistell were omitted.

The frosty Harrison Park surface had survived two inspections but the match started out in bright sunshine. Misplaced passes were a constant feature as conditions made life difficult for the players, with no-one being at fault for lack of effort.

Five minutes had elapsed before the first attack of note came from Leek as Adam Oakes ran in beyond Fearon but the hosts' top scorer Louis Briscoe fired high and wide from distance. Skipper Anthony Danylyk then tried to fashion a chance but Ryan Davis came over from left back to mop up at the expense of a corner from which centre half Wayne Johnson nodded gently and harmlessly wide.

Matlock were defending well, but were not causing Leek many problems at the other end in the early stages. And they might have gone behind on 18 minutes, but for an outstanding fingertip save from Martin Taylor, diverting a Kyle Armstrong thunderbolt over the bar. Taylor had another fine game, his handling was faultless, and is currently taking the opportunity given to him by joint bosses Brown and Williams. Despite pulling a thigh later in the match, he continued to look as safe as houses.

The Gladiators then broke quickly to the other end for Simon Barraclough to be crowded out. Taylor held a Danylyk shot through a crowd of players before Matlock started to gain a foothold in the game. Matty Caudwell began to tease Rob Hawthorne on the left flank before popping up in the centre to turn well some twelve yards out only for goalkeeper Matt Cooper to palm away his drive. Caudwell was then back on the wing to cut inside and fire a cross drive high and wide of the back post.

Then on 39 minutes a piece of Barraclough magic nearly gave Matlock the lead. Spotting Cooper slightly off his line, he casually lobbed a thirty yard effort goalwards which beat the surprised custodian to bounce a foot past his left hand upright. Then when Fearon fouled Briscoe, Danylyk's attempt had power but no direction as it was yards wide. That effort epitomised a half where there had been plenty of huffing and puffing, but not much quality.

Having defended so well in the first half it was important that Matlock kept their concentration, and one moment of indecision ninety seconds after the resumption was nearly costly. They were forced to concede which appeared to be a needless corner, from which Johnson's header struck Laight on its way to hitting the bar with the defender forcing the loose ball too high.

Having survived their one lapse in concentration, there was a pleasing desire from the Gladiators not to let that happen again. Caudwell again broke to shoot narrowly over before Dene Cropper, with his knee heavily bandaged and revealing afterwards of again being in terrible pain when he ran, was replaced by Steve Taylor.

Davis broke purposefully on the left to feed Barraclough whose shot bobbled gently through to Cooper. Martin Taylor then produced his second top class save, beating away a power packed Steve Brannan strike after Laight had magnificently headed clear the initial attack. Later superb blocks from Lukic and Fearon were again vital, and could have proved to be even more significant as Matlock, having had to have done the majority of the defending, finished the stronger and could have pinched all three points.

Cooper used his legs to block a Caudwell shot, Steve Taylor drove at Cooper from a tight angle and just a couple of minutes after coming on, Laurence Hall came within a whisker of deflecting in a cross drive from Benger which was dropped on down to his right by Cooper.

Two goalbound Circuit drives were kept out, defender Nick Ward knowing precious little about one which struck him on the head, with Cooper holding the other. Cooper also did well to save Laight's well struck effort as Matlock's hard work earned them their point.

Leek fans will feel they deserved more. Their team gave Matlock a stern test and after conceding a lot of rather soft goals recently, the Gladiators this time showed steel and commitment. They must now build on this display to try and force their way back into the top eight.

MATLOCK TOWN: M Taylor, Fearon, Davis, Circuit, Laight, Lukic, Webster, Benger (Hannigan 85), Cropper (S Taylor 51), Barraclough (Hall 78), Caudwell.