Matlock quickly returned to the winning theme after their FA Trophy exit last weekend as two late goals saw off Blue Square North local rivals Alfreton in the Derbyshire Senior Cup at Causeway Lane on Tuesday night.
After the Reds Matt Wilson had cancelled out Nathan Joynes' first half strike, Matlock came strong towards the end as extra time loomed with leading scorer Ross Hannah putting the Gladiators back in front before a screamer from Liam King within a further ninety seconds confirmed their place in the last four.
Lee Featherstone, Simon Sturdy and Ben Algar all picked up injuries in the Kidderminster defeat, so in came Scott Brough, Nathan Benger and Joynes with Mark Haran moving back from striker to stopper. Steve Warne was playing against his old club. Alfreton included former Matlock midfielders Kris Bowler at left back and Curtis Shaw on the bench, while defender Aden Flint, who had a spell on loan at Causeway Lane last season, was ruled out through suspension.
Hannah looked to have broken clear in only the 2nd minute but after checking his run his cross was headed out by Wilson for the onrushing Gareth Davies to crash a fierce 25 yard shot well over the bar. Matlock had made a bright start with Hannah seeing penalty appeals waved away by referee Paul Thompson before Joynes was a whisker away from connecting with Adam Yates' cross from the right.
Alfreton replied positively as Ian Ross struck the top of the bar from a free kick after Brough unluckily saw the ball rear up at his hand, but Matlock were soon breaking forward again as King's shot sailed too high after impressive play by Joynes whose play was again pleasing on the eye.
A teasing Hannah cross flashed across the box but again Alfreton were closest to a goal when Andy Todd got the better of Brough but Arron Jameson was out in a flash to produce a fantastic block save.
After Hannah's lob was only fractionally too high, Matlock went in front on 22 minutes with a goal superbly made by Steve Warne who fed JOYNES with a pin point pass for the new Gladiators striker to thread a neat shot low inside Paddy Gamble's right hand post.
After Warne fired wide it needed a magnificent tip over the bar from Gamble to prevent Hannah from doubling Matlock's lead with one of his specials. King burst through to see a goalbound strike charged down before Brough's free kick saw Benger turn sweetly and shoot narrowly past Gamble's right hand upright.
But Alfreton were still in the match as long as the advantage was a slender one goal and anthony Howell nearly proved the point succinctly as his strike was somehow deflected wide with Matlock in a slight tangle at the back.
Reds boss Nicky Law withdrew one pair of strikers in Paul Clayton and Todd for another in Liam Hearn and Ben Mills at the interval, but after an opening ten minutes confined largely to midfield, King found room on the right to slide a low centre across the Alfreton six yard box which Ben Starosta scrambled behind.
The chance count had decreased but it took a tremendous Haran challenge to deny Howell who had pierced Matlock on the left. From the corner though came parity as WILSON stormed in to head powerfully past Jameson on 66 minutes.
For the first time in the game Alfreton started to gain the upper hand but Lukic and Haran were towers of strength at the back for the hosts.
And their contribution paid dividends as in a storming Matlock climax, two quick goals came the home side's way.
HANNAH wheeled away in delight after latching on to a right wing centre helped on by Joynes to slip a neat finish under Gamble with the Reds vainly appealing for offside in the 82nd minute. Alfreton had barely recovered from that blow when along came another as KING had gamble groping at fresh air, the 25 yard thunderbolt nestling in the top corner.
Matlock could then celebrate their first win of the milennium against their higher division neighbours.
MATLOCK TOWN: Jameson, Yates, Brough, King, Haran, Lukic, Davies, Warne, Joynes, Hannah, Benger (Algar 73). Other subs: Wood, Cartwright, Frost, Buxton.
ALFRETON TOWN: Gamble, Starosta, Bowler, Wilson, Roma, Ross, Istead, Todd (Mills 46), Clayton (Hearn 46), Hall(Shaw 87), Howell. Other subs: Law, McFadzean.
REFEREE: P I Thompson--Chesterfield. ATTENDANCE: 270
Star Man: Mark Haran
