MATLOCK TOWN 1-1 ILKESTON TOWN
A hard fought derby saw the spoils shared and Matlock's unbeaten run extended to nine league and cup games at Causeway Lane last Saturday.
Ilkeston would probably go home thinking they did enough to gain the extra two points after dominating the second period, but gutsy Matlock stood firm, and after going behind early in the game, the high flying Robins needed a fluke of an equaliser which turned the game in their favour, to earn their point.
There was a blow for the Gladiators as skipper Steve Warne was out through a back injury picked up in training, so Ashley Foyle was named at full back with the versatile Danny Wood taking Warne's place in the engine room. The Gladiators included two former Robins, in goalkeeper Paul Pettinger and Lee Feathertone, the latter taking his place on the left of midfield with Paul Riley occupying his former left back slot. Rob Lund, whose fine debut in the League Cup win against Worksop was capped by a late goal was on the bench with the returning Ross Hannah and Simon Barraclough, and goalkeeping coach Nick Buxton was the reerve custodian.
The Gladiators grounstaff led by Dave Reynolds had worked the oracle to get the game on with the pitch being engulfed in several inches of snow in midweek. The surface was heavy, but most certainly playable, and the team that had the most appetite would probably come out on top.
In the early exchanges that team was most definitely Matlock, who had been presented with the UniBond Premier Division's Team Of The Month award by sponsors Henkel before kick off.
Within a minute they had produced a move of high quality which saw Ryan Laight find Featherstone on the left with a pin point long raking pass. Featherstone pulled back an inviting ball which the Robins managed to scramble away but only as far as Wood who drove high and handsomely wide.
But six minutes afterwards the Gladiators led after another flowing move, the best of the match.Liam King burst forward centrally to swap passes with Dene Cropper to shoot goalwards. Robins goalkeeper Chris Adamson parried but the pressure was still on as FEATHERSTONE picked up the pieces and picked his spot drilling a fine finish low into the opposite corner.
Ilkeston were most definitely out of sorts early on although they won a free kick wen Ashley Foyle was ruled to have fouled Ben Pringle,a usually influential blond haired schemer who was having a frustrating afternoon. But Kieran Murphy's strike was well blocked and on the counter Matlock streatched the Robins again as Adamson had to rush off his line to clear from the onrushing Nathan Benger.
Jamie Jackson provided Benger with a shooting chanve which saw Adamson save comfortably and then Cropper, a workhorse at both ends of the pitch, tried his luck from thirty yards after Jackson had again been involved, but his shot drifted past Adamson's left hand post.
Ilkeston had not produced a goalbound shot of note but they were level thanks to a fluke and some terrible misjudgement by Pettinger.
There seemed little danger as full back Lee Thompson floated in a cross fom deep on the right. Pettinger. obviously believing the sam, thinking it would drift out for a goal kick never moved, but was soon left red faced as the ball struck the far post and found the net and Ilkeston were undeservedly level on 37 minutes.
They say that goals change games and this was definitely the case here, but a determined Matlock held firm with man of the match Aden Flint was absolutely brilliant at the heart of the Gladiators defence as Ilkeston, boosted by their huge slice of luck, dominated the second half.
Credit too goes to Pettinger who after that gaffe proved to be unbeatable as he pulled off a string of fine saves with Ilkeston going for the kill.
Two or three months ago Matlock would probably not have survived the onslaught but a team effort ensured that they would gain some reward from the game.
After Ashley Foyle failed to reappear for the second half after limping off in stoppage time at the end of the first period, Matlock had to reorganise again with Wood reverting to right back and Rob Lund coming on in midfield.
Ilkeston's pressure began straightaway with Pettinger superbly fingertipping a header from Anthony Church over the bar although the assistant referee had flagged for offside. Pettinger then pushed away an effort from Mark Newsham to produce a corner which saw him repeat the save of earlier from Church, this time the attempt was from a shot.
The pressure was relieved briefly as King ended an intelligent counter attack by firing into Adamson's arms.
Former Gladiator Tom Cahill was having a quiet game with the threat coming more from hois fellow Robins and winger Sam Duncum, a summer target for Matlock, was next to be denied by Pettinger who clawed away his low drive at the near post. Duncum saw his free kick saved by Pettinger before the Gladiators survived an almighty scare on 75 minutes.
Murphy thought he had netted with a heade from a left wing corner which Pettinger flicked on to the underside of the bar. The defender had wheeled away o start his celebration as Matlock hacked the ball clear.
It was backs to the wall stuff for Matlock but their resilience shone through. Flint continued to be a tower of strength and he and Pettinger combined to ensure Ilkeston would not return to the Erewash Valley celebrating a last minute goal against the Gladiators for the second time this season.
On Boxing Day Jon Douglas denied Matlock all three points with a 94th minute leveller. This time it was Douglas again, on as a substitute for Cahill, who burst clear. Pettinger sped off his line to block the first shot but Douglas followed up and looked certain to break the Gladiators hearts again.
But star man Flint was their saviour with a vital and magnificent goal line intervention.
That clearance could prove to be vital in the final analysis.
MATLOCK TOWN: Pettinger, Foyle (Lund 46), Riley, King, Flint, Laight, Jackson (Barraclough 83), Wood, Cropper, Benger (Hannah 62), Featherstone Other subs: Buxton.
Referee: M A Suton--Belper. ATTENDANCE: 415 STAR MAN: Aden Flint.
