An entertaining and competitive affair was settled by substitute Ryan Gaward's 87th minute strike after Gaward had earlier supplied the pin point cross for Lewis Trimmer to cancel out Paul Riley's sizzling opener for the Gladiators. All of the goals came in the second half after a first period in which Matlock had created by far the better chances, but could not find the breakthrough.

The Gladiators experimented in defence with captain James Lukic being the only member of last season's back four on view. Former Barnsley defender Ryan Laight was given a run out at right back with Phil Austin being handed another opportunity to impress in the number three shirt. Laurence Hall started at centre half alongside Lukic.As at Long Eaton on Saturday, Ian Holmes and Dene Cropper played as central strikers with Paul Riley operating down the left flank. Holmes might have given Matlock a 4th minute lead when in a typical probing run, he latched on to a Cropper pass having esaped the attention of Adrian Torren, but with only veteran custodian Carl Muggleton to beat, Holmes tucked his shot inches wide of the near post.

A Warren Burrell effort produced a diving save from Andy Richmond before a good spell saw the hosts come close to finding the opening goal. On 24 minutes the industrious Paul Riley volleyed narrowly wide from the edge of the box after a corner had been half cleared and this was soon followed by Lukic flicking a header inches past a post after Riley's strength and persistence had forced another flag kick. Cropper, who was holding the ball up superbly, fired at Muggleton from long range before the half came to a close with Hall finding Holmes with a penetrating forty yard pass for Town's top scorer from last term to fire in a fierce shot which Muggleton tipped on to the outside of his left hand post.

The Stags had been on the defensive for much of this period save for a Jamie McGee shot which whistled inches wide. After the half time refreshments, Matlock continued from where they had ended the first forty five minutes as Steve Warne's teasing ball in from the right saw Riley flick narrowly wide but RILEY would have cause to celebrate in the 52nd minute. In a surge down the inside left channel, the Stags defence stood off him and he crashed a fabulous volley in off the bar from fully thirty yards for a truly memorable goal. Just sixty seconds later it was nearly 2-0 as
Cropper spotted Muggleton off his line and his thirty yard first time lob bounced just the wrong side of the upright.

But a near two goal deficit was turned into parity for The Stags shortly after the hour when Gaward found room on the left to reach the bye line and cross with deadly accuracy for TRIMMER to head firmly in. Lukic was close to restoring Matlock's lead on 66 minutes with another header from a corner which again was wide by only a whisker. But Trimmer's pace was proving to be a real threat at the other end and after outstripping substitute Dave McNicholas, Matlock were glad to see Richmond push away the finish. A strong Holmes shot after more good work by Riley thumped into Muggleton's chest before Mansfield settled it late on as Trimmer's diagonal pass to the left found GAWARD free to fire a firm ground shot into the opposite corner.

Defeat was harsh on Matlock but the result on this occasion does not take on as much importance as the performance. It was an enterprising attacking display by the Gladiators who appear to have a wealth of attacking optons in their squad ahead of the new campaign.
MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Austin (R Taylor 73), Ashley (Webster 57), Hall (Kirkwood 66), Lukic (McNicholas 73), Warne, Circuit (Lambert 73), Cropper (Smith 77), Holmes, Riley. REFEREE: James Thornhill (Ilkeston)
ATTENDANCE: 257 Star Man: Paul Riley.