Matlock thoroughly deserved this emphatic victory against managerless Lincoln, and thus notched their first league double of the season after a 2-1 home win at the Geoquip Stadium back in August.

 

Former Lincoln City striker Dene Cropper returned to the city to grab two more goals, the second from the penalty spot  to provide further evidence that he is returning to the prolific form he was showing before his cruciate ligament operation. United finished the game with ten men with Chris Glarvey being red carded after bringing down Jake Pidcock in the penalty incident.

 

The Gladiators handed a debut to striker or winger Jamie Donnelly-Jackson, signed on a months loan from Chesterfield last Friday. In a very attack minded line up. the loanee operated down the right flank with the fit again Matty Caudwell speeding down the left touchline. Gary Webster moved into the centre and had another excellent game. In defence Ryan Laight partnered James Lukic in the middle with Steve Circuit moving to right back and Paul Riley was passed fit to complete the defensive quartet.

 

But within a minute, Matlock's best laid plans had to be altered as yet another injury came their way. Steve Taylor and home custodian Ben Scott collided after a through pass turned into a 50-50 ball. Referee Atkin immediately summoned the trainers and while Scott recovered relatively quickly, Taylor didn't appear to know what day it was, leaving the pitch with a bad cut to his head, to be replaced by Pidcock.

 

But the blow did not adversely affect a Matlock performance of utmost efficiency. They were in Lincoln's faces from the off, being far too quick and skilful for the hosts who looked low on confidence.

 

It was virtually one way traffic towards the Lincoln goal for much of the contest and there was a sniff of an opening for the visitors in the 6th minute when Cropper nodded on a free kick to Lukic who had got in around the back of the Lincoln defence to pull a cross back but there was nobody following in to profit.

 

Two minutes later a Donnelly-Jackson effort was deflected wide before on 12 minutes came a move of exceptional quality. Cropper and Pidcock swapped passes before finding Caudwell who hammered a fine strike inches past the far post. Scott then got in the way of a shot from Cropper after Pidcock had knocked down a quickly taken throw before the keeper pulled off a magnificent save from Webster's twenty five yard sizzler which looked destined for the top left hand corner.

 

Pidcock rose at the far post to nod a Caudwell cross wide before Town forced a succession of corners but could not find nthe killer touch.

 

A rare Lincoln attack saw Ben Good head wide after Matlock switched off momentarily, but normal service was soon resumed and after Ashley Foyle was harshly booked for handling a Caudwell cross, the winger fired off target when the free kick was knocked into his path.

 

But the goal which had been coming since the first whistle duly arrived on the stroke of half time. Man of the match Webster won possession just inside the Lincoln half to send Cropper clean through with a perfectly weighted pass. CROPPER didn't disappoint clinically tucking a low finish beyond Scott to give the Gladiators an important psychological boost.

 

Riley blocked an Iain Screaton shot as Lincoln sought a way back but they were soon under the cosh again. Cropper headed a Webster cross wide before Donnelly-Jackson's lightening pace saw him streak down the right only for Ben Brown to block the centre. The Spireite repeated the trick with both Cropper nad Pidcock having headers charged down but the pressure eventually told in the 66th minute. Pidcock was brought down by Glarvey just as he was about to pull the trigger and referee Atkin instantly pointed to the spot and brandished the red card to the Whites defender.

 

CROPPER crashed an unstoppable penalty into the top left hand corner and Matlock were home and dry. Lincoln had been toothless with a full compliment of players so having one less meant their task was hopeless.

 

Matlock might have added to their tally as Riley's ball in from the left was just too strong for Pidcock and only Scott's brilliance denied Cropper what would have been a richly deserved hat-trick. The home cutodian and skipper got down well to block Cropper's well struck effort when he was literally the last line of defence.

 

Webster, who had run his proverbial socks off, went off to huge applause in stoppage time when he made way for James Kinsler. The Wirksworth lad had been at the hub of much of the Gladiators' play and looks as though he could have a future in a central midfield role.

 

But while Webster and Cropper stood out, it was essentially a fine all round team performance from the Gladiators who will now be looking to build on this result and work their way into a play off slot in the coming weeks.

 

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Riley, Ashley, Circuit, Lukic, Webster (Kinsler 90) Donnelly-Jackson, Cropper, Taylor (Pidcock 2), Caudwell. Other sub: Williams.

 

REFEREE: R Atkin (Scunthorpe) ATTENDANCE: 205 STAR MAN: Gary Webster.