But surprisingly the Gladiators were on level terms within two minutes, from arguably their first meaningful attempt on goal. But what a strike it was as last season's leading scorer, ROSS HANNAH
turned on Danny Wood's short pass to strike a quite delightful and venemous finish which visiting custodian Jason White could merely help over the line.
Almost immediately White somehow managed to block Cropper's fierce volley, before the opening half concluded with Scott Brough cleverly deflecting Beswick's cross for a corner.
The match also exploded for the wrong reasons as Liam King was flattened by a late challenge and in the melee which followed, Hannah was booked for taking his own retribution. It might so easily have been a red card with a more competent referee who booked six other players, Matlock's other recipient being Gareth Davies.
Town looked a different side after half time. They had probably shown King's Lynn too much respect. Within two minutes of the restart, they were knocking on the door of the visitors goal as Cropper knocked down a Davies cross and a Lynn defender did just enough to make Hannah slice inches wide.
Another puzzling decision by Mr. Tankard who ruled Ryan Laight had fouled when he looked to have clearly played the ball gave Sheldon a shooting chance from a free kick which fell wide but two goals in two minutes, one for each side, had the crowd on their feet.
The prelude to Matlock taking the lead was a move which saw Hannah feed Cropper to lay off for King who drove troo high. But the pressure on Lynn was maintained and from a right wing corner. HARAN rose majestically to power in a header for his first Gladiators goal on his home debut.
But the cheers of the home support had barely subsided when Lynn were level as OWEN STORY's twenty five yard volley fairly ripped past Sollitt who had no chance of keeping the screamer of a shot out.
The match opened up more as Brough released King with a neat pass inside which the midfielder screwed wide of the near post.
Then Story nearly treated the crowd to another special goal, only to clip the bar from thirty yards.
Zak Martin cleared off the line from Hannah and from the corner which followed, the Linnets defence gratefully cleared the danger. A Wood free kick was met by Cropper who steered his header a fraction wide as the crowd totally enjoyed a fine second half.
Jamie Jackson came on for Wood late on before Hannah's assist to King saw him drive inches wide as the Causeway Lane faithful thought the net would bulge.
But Matlock's persistence bore tasty fruit with five minutes to go. Both Hannah and Cropper were denied by a combination of woodwork and White, but Cropper, with King alongside him, struck the decisive blow with Haran being injured in the scramble.
Then it was a case of sensible Matlock play. Lynn's Matt Birley centred across the Town penalty box and Sheldon scooped a shot too high but Sollitt wasn't extended as Town's first league win was secured.
In the end, Matlock deserved the win, showing the tenacity and willpower against a side, despite having been beaten in their first game, and again at the Lane, will be there or thereabouts according to Matlock boss Mark Atkins at the end of the campaign.
Matlock Town: Sollitt, Brough, Featherstone, King, Haran, Laight, Wood (Jackson 78), Warne, Cropper, Hannah, Davies. SUBS NOT USED: Riley, Cartwright, Foyle, Buxton.
Referee: A Tankard---Sheffield, Attendance: 378 Star Man: Ross Hannah.
