The Spireites fielded two different sides and finished comfortable winners in the annual Banner Jones Cup meeting at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday night.
Chesterfield got stronger as the game went on, which really was not surprising as they brought their big guns out at the start of the second half to build on their slender one goal interval lead.
As for Matlock there were again positives with some slick passing moves, particularly in the first half, and even without their experienced central defensive partnership of Simon Sturdy and James Lukic, they defended tidily. What they needed the most was someone to finish the moves off in clinical fashion.
A healthy 1159 crowd boosted the Gladiators coffers and they witnessed Matlock, in their second choice strip from last season of all yellow, match their newly promoted League One neighbours in the opening exchanges.
Pilkington had a shot blocked for the Spireites after a neat move but then at the other end an equally impressive break saw Steve Warne's floated cross find Ian Holmes who headed straight at trialist goalkeeper Lloyd.
A rare slip from Chris Bettney gave Dean Morgan a shooting chance which cleared the bar from twenty yards, but Bettney then did his best to atone by looping a high ball towards Holmes who was outjumped by the goalkeeper who punched convincingly clear.
Scott Boden's low strike warmed the safe hands of Matlock's Jon Kennedy, but the home custodian could do nothing about the Spireites opener on 33 minutes when nifty footwork inside the Gladiators' penalty box from MORGAN preceeded a firmly driven low shot into the opposite corner of the net.
Chesterfield had the bit between their teeth and although Kennedy pushed aside Pilkington's low drive, Matlock reached the interval without any further cause for alarm.
That situation changed as a couple of long distance off target strikes were followed by a stunning volleyed goal from JACK LESTER on 52 minutes. The crowd could only admire the accuracy and venom of the finish as he met Jordan Bowery's knock down from a right wing centre.
Just to prove that one of the best lower league strikers can sometimes miscue, Lester sliced another volleyed opportunity wide eleven minutes later.
Matlock were then hit by the loss of Holmes after a clumsy midfield challenge which left them without a recognised out and out striker on the pitch. Bettney lifted a shot over the bar from ten yards, but by now the Spireites had found cruise control. They were first to most challenges and knocked the ball about with confidence and aplomb, possibly due to Matlock not closing them down as quickly as manager Mark Atkins would have liked.
The pacy Bowery's powerful blast flew wide before Kennedy spared the impressive Adam Yates the sight of diverting the ball into his own net with an instinctive quality stop.
Another intricate passing move ended with NATHAN SMITH's cross shot which comprehensively beat Kennedy's dive to his left for Chesterfield's third goal with twelve minutes left. The watching former England international Chris Waddle would surely have applauded the build up play.
Matlock rallied towards the end with substitute Alex Bracken curling narrowly wide from the edge of the box, and although Kennedy was forced into action again by Bowery, Matlock registered an 88th minute consolation effort when following blocked attempts from James Knowles and Bracken, RYAN MALLON's deflected shot spun past Tommy Lee.
Right at the death Matlock won a free kick twenty five yards out and former Spireite midfielder Gareth Davies shook his head after watching his direct crack at goal strike the inside of the post with Lee a spectator.
MATLOCK TOWN: Kennedy, Harcourt, Kendall, King, Yates, Warne, Bettney, Whittington, Holmes, Davies, Bowler. Subs used: Mallon, Witcombe, Bracken, Featherstone, Algar, Knowles.
CHESTERFIELD: Lloyd, Edwards, Pilkington, Lowry, Holden, Niven, Morgan, Gray, Clay, Darikwa, Boden. Subs used: Lee, Ford, Allott, Whittaker, Mattis, Lester, Downes, Bowery, Talbot, Smith, Randall
REFEREE: R Shoebridge--Ripley ATTENDANCE: 1159 STAR MAN: Adam Yates
