Match Reports

Three absolutely massive and vital points for the Gladiators in Tuesday night's humdinger at the Geoquip Stadium lifted them six big steps up the UniBond Premier Division table, but they were certainly made to work hard and sweat by an energetic Kendal side who played their full part in a tenacious game of football.

A brace from captain for the night Simon Barraclough with James Lukic missing through illness was added to by Paul Riley and a Callum Warburton own goal with Carl Osman striking twice for the visitors who finished the game with only nine men plus player manager Lee Ashcroft banished from the dug out.

Ryan Davis, considered to be out for the rest of the season, partnered Ryan Laight in central defence in a surprise move, and given his foot injury, played splendidly to repel what was a potent Kendal threat which for the first two thirds of the contest, included former Football League top striker Ashcroft.

But there were other heroes too in Barraclough, who also claimed an assist in the Gladiators match clinching fourth with nine minutes left, Paul Riley who scored one and made one, Laight who again showed why he is a contender for the Player Of The Season, and last but not least, Andy Richmond, who pulled off four tremendous saves.

It was Kendal, in spite of their long trip, who began much the better as Davis headed a teasing Osman cross behind before Matlock scrambled the ball clear with Jamie Jackson working hard to retain possession in the process. Richmond saved well from Ashcroft but was not to know that the offside flag had been raised. The early signs were not good for the Gladiators but it was Matlock who broke to create a good opportunity as Dene Cropper broke away down the left only for goalkeeper Yeomans to cut out his low cross shot.

Shortly afterwards Nathan Benger's speculative long distance effort looped narrowly over after he received a square pass from Jackson, but even given Kendal's early dominance, Matlock should have been ahead on 16 minutes when a throw on the left sent Barraclough clean through, but his composure deserted him with a scooped effort which drifted high and wide. Yeomans should really have been forced into a save.

That miss was nearly punished as Matlock surrendered possession cheaply in midfield and Ashcroft's well struck low drive whistled past Richmond's right hand post.This was quickly followed by Richmond pulling off a top class save from Neil Murphy as Kendal were allowed to make inroads down the Matlock left far too easily.

There was worry on the terraces as OSMAN was left with a free header from a 30th minute corner to give Kendal the lead. Matlock could not complain too much at this stage as Kendal had held the upper hand thus far. It might have been worse as an error by Cameron Fearon nearly let in Osman again, but within five minutes of going behind, Matlock were back on level terms.

With rain teaming down, BARRACLOUGH showed the Kendal back line a clean pair of heels as he left them for dead on the left of the penalty box to dispatch a clinical low drive into the opposite corner.

Equality was maintained as Richmond dived bravely at Osman's feet after Matlock had been slow to react to a quickly threaded through ball but soon it was back to the other end as Barraclough glanced a header from a Matty Caudwell cross well wide of the mark.

Caudwell had been moved forward from full back with Riley slotting into the deeper position as the half had unfolded, but RILEY found himself loitering with intent to give Matlock an interval lead seconds before the whistle.

Kendal failed to effectively clear his initial free kick and when Jackson found him on the edge of the box, the former Notts County man found the target with a sizzler which sped past Yeomans outstretched left hand.

The match had seemingly changed in ten first half minutes but there were more twists and turns to come. Eager to find an equaliser, tall striker Craig Hobson planted a 48th minute header beyond the back post as Matlock again looked vulnerable defending on the flanks. Four minutes later Matlock were again left to rue their weakness at set pieces on the night as OSMAN buried a powerful near post header from a free kick on the right.

The balance of power looked to have shifted back to the Cumbrians but Matlock responded with a Gary Webster shot into Yeomans body and a well intended Cropper chip nearly being converted by Jackson at the back post.

But it was all smiles again for the home fans as on the hour, Riley delivered probably the cross of the season to find BARRACLOUGH unattended some eight yards out and he duly showed exquisite control to clip home his finish. Almost immediately Ian Kilford found an important deflection to Benger's fierce drive to concede a corner but the match was still on a knife edge.

Richmond excelled with a brilliant stop to deny Osman his hat-trick and substitute Paul Fildes really ought to have converted an Osman centre from close range. Davis brilliantly cleared a left wing delivery from Paul Byrne before full back Murphy made life seemingly more comfortable for the Blues by being red carded for a two footed lunge at Barraclough on 77 minutes.

Four minutes later the scoring ended as Barraclough swept past Kilford on the left to cross low towards Jackson but midfielder CALLUM WARBURTON watched in horror as he lifted the ball agonisingly over Yeomans for an unfortunate own goal.

Still Kendal came at Matlock as Richmond superbly saved from Byrne who had sprinted clear following a speedy break from a Matlock corner and Davies cleared off thre line from Fildes.

The in stoppage time Michael Cole controversially saw red after what appeared to be an accidental collision with referee Howitt with Ashcroft then being sent from the dug out for his vociferous protests.Mr. Howitt also booked Kendal's David Standley, Warburton and Hobson and Matlock's Benger.

His last whistle was greeted with relief. Matlock can now clearly see the finishing line in the battle to stay up. The win wasn't convincing, but Matlock showed character and at this stage of the season, and in their current predicament, any win, no matter how it is achieved, is welcome indeed.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Fearon, Caudwell (Thorpe 78), Benger, Laight, Davis, Webster, Riley, Cropper, Barraclough (Kistell 90), Jackson. Other sub: D Williams.