A brace from Steve Warne added to Simon Barraclough's opener and a penalty save from Andy Richmond ensured that James Lukic's 400th appearance in a Matlock shirt would be a memorable one as the Gladiators comprehensively beat Blue Square North visitors Telford at the Geoquip Stadium on Saturday.

Matlock went into the game as underdogs but any neutral would have thought that it was the Gladiators who were the higher placed side, such was their dominance for the lion's share of the contest. Telford boss Rob Smith described his side's performance as shambolic and an embarrassment as Matlock not only out thought and outfought the Bucks, they outplayed them as well. Richmond earned his expected recall in the one change from the starting line up which had drawn at Frickley while new signing from Worksop Town, winger Matty Caudwell was named as a substitute.

Richmond saved a well struck Matt Lewis effort down to his left in the 3rd minute but two minutes later BARRACLOUGH put the Gladiators in front. Paul Riley charged up the left flank, crossing for Barraclough who dispatched a delightful glancing header over Ryan Young into the corner of the net. Telford won the corner count but it counted for nothing as Matlock defended with purpose and broke with devastating pace. Warne ran from deep in the 11th minute and only a last gap deflection sent his goalbound strike out for a corner, but WARNE was to fare better four minutes later.

It all began with a tremendous Neil Ashley challenge on Lee Moore who was playing a one-two with full back Lee Vaughan on the Matlock eighteen yard line. Ashley quickly fed Warne who sprinted fully eighty yards, deliciously interchanged passes with Barraclough, before sliding a calm finish low into the far corner beyond the exposed Young. It was a goal of the highest quality. Telford strove for a reply and should have had it when referee Wayne Porter, who is easily the best official to have visited the Geoquip Stadium for a long time, adjudged Lukic to have pulled back Neil Reynolds. But Richmond guessed correctly as he smothered Moore's tamely struck spot kick low to his left to preserve the Gladiators two goal advantage with 23 minutes gone.

Matlock were competing fiercely and had more of a stomach for the fight than Telford. Warne's pace on the left was a constant thorn in Telford's side while Barraclough was a real handful for the visiting defence. A strike from midfielder Chris Cornes took a massive deflection off Steve Circuit and had Richmond diving to claw the ball away in the 34th minute, but five minutes later it was nearly 3-0 as Young pulled off a fine save to keep out a cracking drive from Steve Taylor.

So half time arrived with Matlock firmly in the driving seat and awaiting a Telford backlash early in the second half. But it was still a meek response from the Bucks as Matlock maintained their firm vice like grip. Simon Forsdick's soft header was meat and drink for Richmond before the Gladiators put the tie to bed with a third goal in the 56th minute. Again it was the Barraclough / Warne combination which bore fruit as WARNE latched on to the striker's assist to shoot low into the corner from the edge of the box.
Moore received the only yellow card for tripping Barraclough from behind and it might have been worse for the Shropshire side as Ashley drove inches past a post and Gary Webster lifted a good opportunity high over the bar.

There was a tiny glimmer of hope for Telford when they pulled a goal back in the 69th minute when REYNOLDS flashing header from a left wing corner powered into the opposite top corner of the net. It was only now that Telford began to play with any rhythm but abject defensive play by them, and in particular substitute Richard Teesdale, nearly saw them concede a fourth but Webster failed to convert a fine chance.Ryan Davis shone at the heart of the Town defence alongside Lukic as Matlock defended brilliantly, knowing fully that if Telford pinched a second goal, a nervous finish might follow. When Telford did break through they found Richmond in superlative form, pulling off commendable saves from Asa Charlton and then Reynolds to keep the two goal lead intact.

The final whistle shrilled and there were celebratory cheers from the home faithful while some Telford followers vented their spleen after watching them well beaten. While Bucks manager Rob Smith gave his players a public ear bashing out on the pitch, Lukic was being presented with a magnum of champagne from the Matlock Town Supporters Club to celebrate his 400 appearances.It was a fitting tribute after what had been a champagne performance by Matlock.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Riley (Caudwell 76), Circuit, Davis, Lukic, Webster, Warne, S Taylor (Hall 87), Barraclough (Cropper 83), Ashley. REFEREE: W Porter (Bourne) ATTENDANCE: 591 STAR MAN: Steve Warne.