Another very promising pre season performance saw Matlock deservedly finish on equal terms against their Championship opponents who included six players with first team experience and three trialists.
Both Matlock goals came from their striking talisman Ross Hannah, who gave central defenders Dean Moxey and Mark O'Brien a torrid time. And Hannah might have had a hat-trick as goalkeeper Saul Deeney saved his first half penalty.
Town's bright start was rewarded with a goal on 12 minutes as Steve Warne nipped in to superbly intercept a wayward knock off by striker Thomas Cwyka and release HANNAH who scored with a controlled right foot finish under the exposed Deeney.
Derby struggled to make any headway in the early stages against a bright Matlock outfit who chased absolutely everything and it took them 17 minutes to create a noteworthy chance when Luke Varney, a striker operating from right back, broke down the right to cross low only for Cwyka fired a lazy effort too high.
Winger Dave Martin, signed from Millwall last term, gave Adam Yates plenty to think about on the left, and the Gladiators central defensive partnership of skipper James Lukic and the experienced Mark Haran were immense as Derby at last exerted some concerted pressure.
But the Rams could have found themselves two goals in arrears on 23 minutes when O'Brien fouled Hannah, but Hannah's spot kick was a shade too close to Deeney who was down well to his right to save.
Joel Ledgister was having quite a battle with Lee Featherstone when the Rams attacked down the right. Geoff Hendrick popped up from midfield to head the winger's cross wide while Adam Sollitt produced a top class tip over from Ledgister's thirty yard scorcher.
The final attack of the half came from Matlock as Yates scampered down the right to deliver a teasing cross which only narrowly eluded Hannah at the back post.
Derby looked more business like after the interval and two quick fire goals had them ahead.
Their 49th minute equaliser had a touch of fortune about it as HENDRICK'S shot from the edge of the area took a huge deflection to leave Sollitt stranded.
The second goal four minutes later came from a set piece as Cwyka's beautifully flighted free kick from the left was met by Australian trialist COURTNEY CHIPPERFIELD whose fine looping header easily beat the scrambling Sollitt.
The Rams lead lasted barely three minutes as HANNAH surged in from the right flank to smack a low left footer that swerved beyond Deeney.
Varney, now operating as a striker, twice came close to a decider for Derby, shooting fiercely and forcing Sollitt into an excellent fingertip stop, before firing straight at the Gladiators' custodian.
As is the norm in pre season games, both managers made a number of changes, but to their credit, Matlock still persisted in playing a passing game and after a fine move down the right, substitute Reuben Wiggins-Thomas saw his cross cum shot deflected, with the ball falling nicely for Rams' replacement custodian Ross Atkins, who was able to shuffle the ball away to safety.
It had been another excellent Matlock performance and another entertaining encounter.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates (Jason Hardy 75), Lee Featherstone (Ziek Jenkins 75), Liam King (Luke Marson 80), Mark Haran, James Lukic, Scott Brough (Reuben Wiggins-Thomas 54), Steve Warne, James Knowles (Ben Algar 56), Ross Hannah, Kris Bowler.
REFEREE: P Thompson--Chesterfield. ATTENDANCE: 378 STAR MAN: James Lukic.
