Ben Kistell's 83rd minute free kick gave the Gladiators three precious and deserved points in Saturday's local derby against an Eastwood side pushing for a play off spot, but who in essence never looked like one of the league's leading lights.

 

This was due in no small measure to the industry of a determined Matlock side who first had to match Eastwood in the physical side of the game before letting their extra class and finesse tell. It wasn't pretty to watch at times, but at the end of the day, it was the win that mattered most and even the most diehard Badgers fan would say that Eastwood got precisely what they deserved from the game...nothing.

 

Having not won in their previous five outings, and not scored in their previous three, Matlock badly needed this victory and right from the kick off there was a steely determination about the way they went about their task. The first half was a non event for the watching UniBond TV audience, the action getting under way at lunchtime before a healthy crowd, but Matlock ended the game well in control and worthy winners.

 

Andy Richmond returned in goal in place of the injured Martin Taylor, while both Paul Riley and Dene Cropper were both ruled unfit. Nathan Benger continued in a midfield role while Steve Taylor wore the number nine shirt with Kistell joining Laurence Hall and Tommy Hannigan on the bench.

 

Eastwood's tactics became apparent almost immediately, aiming for the giant centre forward Marc Smith from set plays. Virtually every throw was hurled long by Iain Screaton, but home central defenders Ryan Laight and James Lukic handled the threat magnificently. The visitors best chance came from a 3rd minute free kick which was played into the heart of the Matlock defence before Richmond did well to block Screaton's close range effort.

 

Matlock replied with Matty Caudwell breaking down the left only for Robert Austin to head out the cross for a corner which was cleared as far as Lukic some eighteen yards out, but the skipper sliced well over the bar.

 

Play was scrappy and it was perhaps suiting Eastwood the better. Scoring chances were few and far between at this stage and the next record of any note was the 29th minute booking for Screaton for an unnecessary trip from behind on Barraclough. The free kick ricocheted around the Eastwood box with Marc Stevenson's clearance cannoning off Jay Smedley for an unproductive corner.

 

When Eastwood broke quickly immediately, a couple of shots in quick succession were well charged down by the stubborn Gladiators defence before Richmond confidently dropped on an attempt from the right by Lindon Meikle.

 

There was a blow for Matlock when Caudwell went down writhing in pain and was stretchered off with Kistell replacing him. Gary Webster switched to the left flank with Kistell wide on the right. The half ended with Matlock's best moment so far, a flashing near post header by Taylor from a right wing corner just beating the upright.

 

Fans were hoping for an improvement entertainment wise after the break and they got it.

 

Richmond was quickly off his line to clear from the advancing Meikle before a half hit Smith shot bobbled wide. At the other end Webster did well to force a corner on the left which was taken by Kistell whose teasing delivery eluded everyone. Then Taylor came within a whisker of connecting to a fine Ryan Davis cross from the left with a diving header.

 

But the match erupted on the hour with a brawl on the touchline which involved nearly every player. The free kick went to Matlock with unbelievably Laight being the only caution, but straightaway Matlock might have gone in front when Simon Barraclough fed Webster who lifted his shot over both the oncoming Ian Deakin and the bar.

 

Matlock were now starting to turn the screw. Two flag kicks came to nothing before Taylor, who had worked tirelessly in attack, came off for Laurence Hall.

 

The former Stoke City man made an immediate impact. Within a minute, Stevenson was lucky to only receive a yellow card for a terrible challenge on Hall from behind. Screaton headed the free kick behind but the danger wasn't over and an audacious acrobatic overhead volley from Barraclough flew a couple of feet wide.

 

Hall was then pulled back by Gary Breach who joined his defensive colleague in the referee's notebook, the free kick being taken swiftly as Kistell weaved his way into the box only to shoot weakly at Deakin. And Stevenson breathed a huge sigh of relief as his header back towards Deakin was pushed on to a post by the goalkeeper and out for a corner.

 

Eastwood paid the price for unnecessarily conceding free kicks when Stevenson again fouled Hall and KISTELL floated in a strike at pace with Lukic's decoy run perhaps unsettling Deakin and his defenders, with the ball settling sweetly in the far corner of the net.

 

Now Matlock had something to hold on to and apart from a cross drive by Paul Mitchell which nearly found the long legs of Smith there were no alarms and the smiles were back on the faces of the Gladiators and their fans.

 

It is difficult to comprehend how Eastwood are challenging for promotion on the evidence of this performance. They were too predictable and even their substitution saw another giant striker, Matt Rhead, coming on for wide man Meikle midway through the second half. But Matlock would not be bullied into submission. They were strong all over the pitch and had that bit extra in the final third.

 

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Fearon, Davis, Circuit, Laight, Lukic, Webster, Benger, Taylor (Hall 69), Barraclough, Caudwell (Kistell 40)

 

Other sub: Hannigan   REFEREE: S G Cooke (Mansfield Woodhouse)  ATTENDANCE: 445 STAR MAN: Ryan Laight.