Two trademark Ross Hannah strikes won Matlock a closely fought pre season friendly encounter against their Blue Square North rivals at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Robins were having the better of the second half, dominating the possession, until Hannah's first strike of the night gave the Gladiators a 2-1 lead in the 74th minute. Laurie Wilson levelled for the visitors just three minutes later, but not for the first time, Hannah would have the final say with another cracking finish that comprehensively beat Ilkeston goalkeeper Kyle Clancy with ten minutes to go. The sides had gone in level at the interval as Chuck Eribenne had headed Ilkeston in front on 39 minutes only for the match's first speedy response of the night on 41 saw Ben Algar confidently slip a calm finish past Clancy after a jinking run from the left.
The hosts' victory was all the more impressive as both first choice central defenders, Mark Haran and James Lukic were away on holiday, so Adam Yates and Kris Witcombe again stood in as they had done at Goole on Saturday. Both had excellent games against the experience of Eribenne, formerly with Bournemouth and in the first half, former Nottingham Forest target man Jason Lee.
Matlock had the first goalbound shot when a Danny Wood free kick was magnificently tipped aside by Clancy in the 9th minute. Ilkeston enjoyed plenty of the play but all too often their moves broke down through over elaboration, a poor final pass or the excellent covering of the Matlock defenders and midfield players.
A much leaner looking Dene Cropper nearly played in Hannah on 23 minutes but his cross from the left was intercepted at the last moment by Clancy. In the next minute came Yates' one bad moment of the night when his back pass was easily read by Eribenne who dallied too long and Witcombe cleared the danger.
Seamus Kelleher loped a hopeful effort way over the Matlock bar before play became bogged down with a series of offside decisions against both teams.
It looked as if the opening half would remain scoreless when the encouraging 204 crowd for a friendly fixture, were treated to two quick goals. Cropper, chasing back, bundled over Ashley Robinson and when the free kick was delivered from the left, ERIBENNE found space to glance a beautifully controlled header low into the corner of Sollitt's net.
But Matlock's response was positive as Liam King surged forward to feed ALGAR who cut in from the left and faced with Clancy, he confidently tucked home a low shot for an outstanding equaliser.
Ilkeston made a clutch of substitutions at the interval bringing on experienced campaigners. Now it was a case of Matlock defending with purpose and organisation as most of the game was played in the Gladiators' half. But Adam Sollitt was never seriously extended with Amari Morgan-Smith heading across goal and Gary Ricketts nodding over. A long range strike from David Graham comfortably cleared the bar.
A push by Morgan-Smith ruled out a Ricketts effort on 64 minutes as Matlock had not had a single shot at goal since the interval.
Their first was both memorable and valuable as from a swiftly executed Steve Warne free kick, HANNAH reacted in typical and vintage style to flash a fierce twenty yarder past a startled Clancy.
On the play Ilkeston were unfortunate to be behind, but there was an escape for them in the very next minute as substitute James Knowles tried to emulate Hannah only for his twenty five yarder to thud back off the post with Clancy well beaten.
WILSON scooped home a right wing cross to bring Ilkeston level but again Hannah showed just why he is one of the top strikers at this level. Warne's driving run saw him find the overlapping HANNAH who then drove powerfully low and true into the opposite corner for the winner.
Ilkeston's challenge fizzled out as Matlock beat a good Robins outfit and leave manager Atkins again a very satisfied leader.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Danny Wood (Reuben Wiggins-Thomas 81), Lee Featherstone, Liam King, Adam Yates, Kris Witcombe, Scott Brough, Steve Warne, Dene Cropper (James Knowles 64), Ross Hannah, Ben Algar (Jason Hardy 81) . Other subs: Zeik Jenkins, Ben Turner, Danny Gregory.
REFEREE: C Grundy--Sheffield. ATTENDANCE: 204 STAR MAN: Kris Witcombe.
