Matlock deservedly booked their place in the next round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy after dominating much of the contest against their UniBond First Division South visitors, but really they should have won by a far more convincing margin.
And at the end, they had to rely on goalkeeper Adam Sollitt handling outside his box, which led to his dismissal to stop Loughborough from getting a second bite of the cherry.
Ross Hannah had recovered from his groin injury sufficiently to earn a recall, this being the one change to the starting line up which had been narrowly defeated at home to Retford United four days earlier. Gareth Davies was o the bench after his one match ban alongside the experienced Mark Haran and Lee Featherstone, and youngster Darren Cartwright.
It was a case of almost non stop Matlock pressure up to the interval and the hosts should really have had more than Nathan Benger's 33rd minute header to show for their endeavours. And, as so often happens, and it seems to with Matlock more than most, a soft goal is then conceded to Kris Nurse, but the Gladiators were quick to regain the upper hand to win thanks to a Gareth Davies free kick fifteen minutes from time.
The home onslaught began in only the 2nd minute as Hannah broke down the left to pull back an inviting cross which Danny Wood struck fiercely on the run, but well wide. Then Simon Sturdy nodded a corner inches past the post before the on loan defender retreated to avert danger at the other end with an acrobatic clearance from a left wing cross by Alex Johnson.
But the action was soon back at the Loughborough end and Ben Algar headed across goal when heading at it looked to be the better option.
A fine chance went begging in the 29th minute when Wood headed back a Hannah cross and Benger nodded wide. Hannah was getting plenty of service down the left and another cross this time found Benger who set up Wood whose shot was blocked for an unproductive corner. Justifiable penalty appeals when Hannah was fouled by Jake Betts were waved away by the referee. But the pressure bore fruit when BENGER rose to head an Algar cross firmly home. In the next attack Wood curled a shot wide,
Yet another Hannah cross caused problems for the visiting defence and centre half Lewis Allen was nearly left vred faced as he sliced his clearance over his own bar. It could have gone amywhere! Algar was the next to find joy down the left as Wood drove too high from his teasing cross. Algar forced a corner which was unconvincingly cleared and with the assault still on, a Hannah free kick drifted inches past the post.
Then only a last ditch goal-line clearance from Allen prevented Hannah from doubling the lead on the stroke of half time.
But there was a nasty shock in store for Town just five minutes after the restart as Sturdy for once failed to deal with a long punt forward and KRIS NURSE was clear to roll a low effort past Sollitt. Sensing Matlock were now perhaps vulnerable, Loughborough attacked again and winger Neil Morgan fired narrowly wide, but that was just about the last that was seen of Dynamo as anattacking force until the stoppage time sending off of Sollitt.
The underdogs were indebted to goalkeeper Matt Nurse who pulled off four stunning saves, two from Steve Warne and two from Algar as Matlock regained the initiative. But Nurse was finally beaten when DAVIES stroked a beautifully executed twenty two yard free kick past the wall and inside the goalkeeper's right hand post. Then in the next minute, Hannah found himself clear cutting in from the left and with colleagues up in support, he shot at Nurse who again was equal to the occasion.
The afternoon was nearly spoilt when Nurse broke clear in stoppage time to force Sollitt out of his box. To handle was a wise if not sporting move. It certainly saved a replay in Leicestershire on Tuesday and gave Matlock their first Saturday home win of the campaign. Sollitt, though, will now be banned for the next round on Saturday week.
A thoroughly deserved Matlock victory, but one that they made harder than they needed to.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Brough, Yates, King, Sturdy, Lukic, Wood (Davies 63), Warne, Benger (Buxton 90), Hannah, Algar. Other subs: Haran, Featherstone, Cartwright.
REFEREE: J Hermuzi--Worksop. ATTENDANCE: 236 STAR MAN: Steve Warne.
