Match Reports

Supporters and management alike were looking for a positive response from the Matlock players after the debacle at Ossett seven days earlier...and this is precisely what they got.

An energetic, hard working, battling performance from Matlock very nearly gave them the three points which they would have deserved against their high flying second in the table opponents. And they produced some good football as well with Fleetwood being grateful that goalkeeper Danny Hurst was in top form with a hat-trick of tremendous saves to keep the hungry Gladiators at bay.

Phil Brown and goalkeeping coach Ian Bowling had watched Fleetwood's recent game at Worksop, and reported that the Lancashire side were a slick passing side who would destroy teams if allowed time and space to perform. The homework done and the pre match preparation turned out to be spot on, with the result being even more creditable as the Gladiators management team sent out probably one of their most youthful line ups in recent history.

Paul Riley moved back to left back as Ryan Davis was omitted from the back four, and Matlock played five across the midfield with Simon Barraclough the lone but dangerous attacker. Nathan Benger and Matthew Thorpe on his home debut were immense. Steve Circuit had to be content with a place on the bench alongside Steve Taylor and new signing Reuben Wiggins-Thomas, a midfielder signed from Eastwood Town on Friday.

In a competitive start Fleetwood broke forward to win a 2nd minute corner which was efficiently dealt with by the Gladiators defence and Matlock soon replied with a pacy break forward as Stef Frost nearly found Ben Kistell in a shooting position deep inside the visitors penalty box, only for Shaun Gray to boot clear.

But Matlock were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 6th minute when Kistell floated in a free kick from the left and Ryan Laight rose magnificently to flick in a power packed header which was superbly tipped over the bar by Hurst.

Laight and skipper James Lukic were magnificent at the heart of the Gladiators defence. Lukic's excellent interception halted Alex Taylor after he had linked with co striker Andy Bell while on 24 minutes Laight's marvellous header at the expense of a corner prevented Alex Taylor from having a clear chance when Kieran Walmsley centred menacingly from the right.

But it was Matlock mainly asking the questions with fans asking just why they could not have shown the same desire up at Ossett.

Barraclough gave defenders Phil Robinson and Gray a torrid time and following a fine turn in the box on 13 minutes, his low cross flashed across goal when just a touch was required to find the target.

Thorpe looks to be Matlock's best find at replacing Steve Warne. Full of running from box to box, he made room for himself on the edge of the area and although his finish lacked power and drifted wide,nevertheless his industry still drew applause from the rather sparse attendance.

But Matlock came within a lick of paint of going in front on 18 minutes and again Hurst was a major reason why the match was still scoreless.

Barraclough slipped an intelligent ball to the advancing Frost whose low angled drive was clawed at full stretch on to the post by Hurst, the ball falling kindly for the Fleetwood defence who gratefully cleared their lines.

The ball was in the visitors net two minutes later through Kistell but Mansfield official Mark Jones had already whistled for a foul on Thorpe. What a pity from the Gladiators viewpoint that he didn't delay his decision, especially as Kistell hoisted the free kick too high.

Lukic planted a 34th minute header wide from a right wing corner as Matlock could consider themselves hard done by not to be in front.

Barraclough immediately caused problems for Robinson after the interval. The defender felled him on the left and Kistell whipped in the free kick which Hurst held at his near post after moving smartly across his goal. Robinson was trying to bully the tiny Barraclough out of the game and he could have no complaints about joining fellow compatriots Jerome Fitzgerald and Ashley Dunn in the book.

The ball failed to run for Kistell in a foray down the left as Matlock maintained their momentum but they had to be wary of not conceding at the other end. Dunn flicked on a cross from full back Shaun Beeley which Richmond as ideally placed to gather and substitute Phil Denney nodded a Jamie Milligan cross at Richmond.

A half chance went astray for Matlock on 67 minutes when Frost headed back a cross from Webster when probably an attempt at goal might have reaped more.

A strange decision by Mr Jones when Lukic challenged Denney gave former Everton first teamer Milligan a chance to whip in a dangerous 72nd minute free kick but again Richmond was not unduly extended.

Matlock always looked the more likely victors and they made three sensible changes near the end to try and force a deserved win, which nearly came just a minute from the end

But that man Hurst was again the Fleetwood saviour as Cameron Fearon released Barraclough down the right. His low cross drive would have nestled just inside the far upright if Hurst had not dived splendidly to his right to push the ball behind.

It would have been a fitting finale for a Matlock team who in no small measure had regained the faith of their fans. There were great performances all over the park with several candidates for star rating. They played as a truly committed unit. Now of course, they need to repeat this level of performance on a consistent basis during the remaining weeks of the season.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Fearon, Riley, Benger, Laight, Lukic, Webster, Thorpe (Circuit 85), Kistell (Wiggins-Thomas 90), Barraclough, Frost (Taylor 82).