After the famine came the feast as Matlock put a barren January behind them to begin February at a canter with a tremendous and convincing victory.
And the result was totally deserved as Matlock, in a worryingly low third bottom spot prior to kick off, put seventh placed and play off chasing Kendal to the sword with a deadly cocktail of determination, flair and organisation which in the end had the visitors at odds with each other. Put quite simply, Matlock had both outfought them and outplayed them.
Once Steve Warne had volleyed Matlock in front, their confidence visibly grew and they were in a great position at the interval as a Nathan Joynes header had doubled the host's advantage. Kendal had a touch more of the possession after the interval as Matlock defended superbly, but the better chances were at the other end and Ross Hannah, after missing two great chances in ninety seconds, made it three goals and three massive points for the Gladiators.
The side virtually picked itself as with both James Lukic and Ben Algar out through suspension, Adam Yates partnered Mark Haran in the heart of the back four, with Danny Wood coming in on the left of midfield. Two of the under 19 squad, Josh Wain and Danny Gregory were on the bench.
The opening exchanges were fairly even. A half chance came Hannah's way on 5 minutes when Joynes knocked down a Featherstone cross but it came at an awkward angle and all Town's top scorer could do was prod a shot gently towards goalkeeper David Newnes.
There was a sniff of an opening at the other end five minutes afterwards but Yates and Haran both went in strongly on Alex Taylor for a fantastic block challenge which saw Haran needing treatment for a leg injury from physio Mick Cunningham. Lesser players than Haran would have come off, but with Matlock short of cover in defence, Haran soldiered on in spite of admitting afterwards he could not feel his leg for thr rest of the contest.
Matlock then forced a couple of corners as Warne drove forward only to be crowded out as he was about to shoot. Then Wood broke on the left to feed Warne who had another shot charged down.
Kendal's biggest danger came from Kieran Walmsley free kicks with Sollitt pushing away the first of three such attempts in the opening half on 25 minutes for a corner, with Liam King having been booked for the challenge on Ian Kilford.
But a minute later Matlock struck the important first blow and what a goal it was from WARNE who hit a stunning fist time volley from twenty yards which flew past Newnes who looked to be taken completely by surprise.
Taylor chipped harmlessly over the bar two minutes later after attacking down the left but Matlock were sharp all over the park. Manager Mark Atkins' work on the training pitch in midweek on swiftly closing down the opposition was bearing fruit.
Kendal then had it all to do when JOYNES rose majestically to meet a cross from the right by Scott Brough to head across the hopelessly exposed Newnes five minutes from half time.
Sollitt again came into his own as Walmsley tried his luck from dead ball situations as half time approached, the goalkeeper tipping over the first effort, before just before the whistle he held the second shot after the ball had been tapped into Walmsley's path.
Kendal were out early for the second half, possibly after being on the end of an ear bashing from manager Lee Ashcroft. They poured forward but found Matlock in an uncompromising mood. Yates joined King in Mr Lawrence's notebook for a late challenge on Taylor, and as the match started to get tasty, Taylor then received a yellow card for a retaliatiory challenge, but on Brough.
Matlock could have put the game to bed shortly afterwards as Hannah beat the offside trap and a square Kendal defence only to shoot inches wide with only Newnes to beat. Then little over a minute later, Danny Wood found him in acres of space and again with only Newnes in front of him, but Newnes was out swiftly to block. Thankfully Matlock would not regret those misses.
Full back Paul Byrne unleashed a thirty five yard thunderbolt which produced a magnificent finger tip over the bar from Sollitt. Kendal could not find a way through Matlock in the traditional way so this was the only other alternative. Substitute George Melling joined the booking count for crashing in on Warne before the visitors frustration was increased when Warne sent HANNAH clear and it was third time lucky. A neat side step around Newnes and a calm finish sewed the game up for Matlock on 69 minutes.
Newnes now looked a bag of nerves as he spilled a couple of balls played towards him and Kendal were now well beaten. Matlock took both of their strikers off with Wain given a brief taste of UniBond League football in stoppage time which saw the visitors win the booking count by three to two as substitute Callum Warburton was punished for bringing down Brough.
So it had been a good start to a massive eight days for the Gladiators and results elsewhere saw them move above both Frickley Athletic and Worksop Town. Manager Atkins and the fans will have one simple message for their team....more of the same please for the rest of the season.
Choosing a star man is a nightmare, there were so many outstanding performers on the day.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates, Scott Brough, Liam King, Mark Haran, Lee Featherstone, Darren Cartwright, Steve Warne, Nathan Joynes (Dene Cropper 84), Ross Hannah (Josh Wain 90), Danny Wood (Nathan Benger 64). Other subs: Danny Gregory, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: David Lawrence--Barnsley. ATTENDANCE: 240 STAR MAN: Steve Warne.
