Liverpudlian Ian Holmes had a happy homecoming in Crosby on Saturday with two well taken goals, but perhaps there was a tinge of disappointment that Matlock did not record the victory they threatened for so long in the first half.
Marine is always a difficult place to go but Matlock made light of their task in the first half which they dominated for long spells. They could easily have been out of the Mariners reach early on.
"I thought we were going to run away with it" said midfielder Gareth Davies afterwards.
But Matlock could not maintain that dominance after the break in which as expected, Marine responded strongly.
Manager Mark Atkins said "We weren't good enough in the second half."
Those post match comments sum up the day perfectly. Matlock would probably have settled for a draw on the coach journey there, they came back reflecting it could and probably should have been all three.
Kris Bowler replaced tonsilitis victim Chris Bettney in the one change to the team which had beaten Frickley.Bowler was on the left and Lee Whittington switched to the right flank.
Matlock set off like an express train and after just 90 seconds Liam King was volleying inches wide after goalkeeper ryan McMahon had punched out a Whittington cross. Then Tyeisse Nightingale touched on a Bowler cross only for McMahon to be ideally positioned to intercept. On 8 minutes Nightingale slipped the ball past McMahon to square for Bowler. Mcmahon scurried back to block Bowler's shot with the midfielder firing the loose ball over the bar.
Holmes latched on to an Adam Yates pass soon afterwards to shoot first time narrowly wide.
Marine did not threaten until the 17th minute when Thomas Moore headed wide at the back post from a set piece. Dead ball situations were proving to be testing for Matlock for on 23 minutes Tony Davies headed wide from a corner played to the back post.
In between these two headed opportunities though, Matlock struck the woodwork as Nightingale diverted a Micky Harcourt cross against the foot of McMahon's left hand upright, the goalkeeper gratefully collecting the rebound which came straight to him.
Jon Kennedy pulled off a brilliant save to divert another Moore header over the bar, but from the corner, DAVIES rose unchallenged to power home a header to give the Mariners the lead against the run of the play on 32 minutes.
It would have been an injustice for Matlock to be trailing at half time and HOLMES ensured Matlock had parity at least. Neat approach play from Nightingale and Yatesin the 44th minute saw the ball find Holmes who neatly sidestepped Matt Brown and stroke in a 12 yard finish with calmness and authority.
And HOLMES was to give the Gladiators the lead in the 57th minute as a superbly delivered Gareth Davies corner was met by the centre forward at the near post to score with a stunning header.
Marine responded with great spirit and now Matlock really needed to show some composure as they constantly gave away possession far too easily. Substitute Paul Henry saw a thirty yarder whistle inches over the top and the hosts forced a succession of corners which would cause concern for the Gladiators, given their susceptibility to set pieces in the opening half.
In spite of losing substitute Darren Byers to injury on 71 minutes and having to use another striker in Aaron Rey, Marine kept knocking on the Gladiators door which opened in rather fortuitous circumstances with a quarter of an hour left.
Neil Harvey managed to squeeze in a cross from the right into the heart of the Matlock goalmouth. It hit firstly Gareth Davies and then James Lukic before trickling past Kennedy. It was given as an own goal against the Matlock skipper.
Holmes burst through for Matlock again only to be thwarted by an excellent tackle by Brown before a great chance to take home maximum points went begging on 79 minutes. Holmes was this time the provider as he and Nightingale bore down on goal. But Nightingale blazed Holmes'thoughtful pass over the bar with just McMahon to beat.
Ben Algar, with his international clearance granted, came on for Nightingale for the last six minutes, finding Holmes whose shot was blocked.
So Matlock had to settle for a point from an entertaining encounter well handled by Preston official David McNamara.
MATLOCK TOWN: Jon Kennedy, Micky Harcourt, Lee Featherstone, Liam King, Adam Yates, James Lukic, Kris Bowler, Tyeisse Nightingale (Ben Algar 84), Ian Holmes, Gareth Davies, Lee Whittington (Steve Warne 78) Other subs: James Knowles, Kris Witcombe, Nick Buxton
REFEREE: D McNamara--Preston ATTENDANCE: 353 STAR MAN: Ian Holmes
