Matlock Town 0-2 Mansfield Town
Two goals in six minutes towards the end of the game saw the Blue Square Premier new boys home against a Matlock side lacking a number of what will surely be their first choice starting line up in the coming season.
Ironically enough, the Stags goals came when the Gladiators brought on some of their more established players!
There was litle to get the sparse crowd cheering in the opening third of the game as there was little pattern or cohesion from either side, which from a Matlock viewpoint was not really surprising given the number of changes made to the line up.
Former Gresley Rovers and Ilkeston Town striker Aaron O'Connor, seeking to earn a contract with Mansfield after leaving Grays Athletic in the summer, had the first chance as Matlock were slack from a throw on the right. The ball was easily moved across field and O'Connor blazed past Andy Richmond's right hand post.
But Matlock did go close in the 21 st minute in a half where neither side looked like grabbing the initiative. Visiting goalkeeper Ben Saynor failed to claim a bouncing ball in the penalty box and Nathan Benger drove goalwards only to see Alan Quinn clear off the line.
Reuben Wiggins-Thomas was looking lively on the right flank and when he dispossessed Ben McCormick in the 37th minute, a goal looked on but he shot straight at Saynor. Seconds later McCormick resorted to foul means to stop Wiggins-Thomas. The free kick ws played short and Gary Webster's cross was cut out before Wiggins-Thomas shot powerfully, but well wide of the target. In an encouraging spell for the hosts, Liam King skilfully set up fellow ex Rotherham colleague Simon Harrison. His drive was true but Saynor got his body well behind it to keep the scoresheet blank.
Tom Ahmed might have done better than fire weakly when in an excellent position, which allowed Richmond to get a hand to his shot before captain for nthe night Ryan Laight mopped up behind. The half ended with Mansfield threatening again, this time through O'Connor with Richmond doing well to snuff out the danger.
Jamie Jackson, who had signed contract forms before kick off, came on for Luke Federenko, but the Stags were first to show as Richmond saved a long range McCormick strike and only a fantasytic challenge by Liam King just inside his own penalty box prevented O'Connor from pulling the trigger.
Laight and Webster had efforts blocked, the latter's earning a corner before Matlock's best move of the game on 67 minutes nearly found them the breakthrough.
Benger released Webster down the left after the pair had neatly exchanged passes before Webster's fiercely struck drive ws beaten away by substitute custodian Luke Harriott.
Then exquisite skill from Jackson on the right saw him tie McCormick in knots with Wiggins-Thomas nodding wide at the back post.
But two minutes after the introduction of their more experienced players, plus 16 years old Darren Cartwright, Matlock were caught napping from a quickly taken free kick on the left which saw the lively Lewis Trimmer cross low from the left which DANNY SLEATH slotted home from close range.
Then on 80 minutes later WARREN BURRELL volleyed past substitute goalkeeper Ashley Ward to double the lead and effectively win the game.
MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond (Ward 77), Thorpe, Laight, King, Fearon (Warne 66), Foyle, Webster (Cartwright 72), Harrison (Pidcock 72), Benger (Cropper 72), Wiggins-Thomas (Barraclough 72), Federenko (Jackson 46)
REFEREE: C Grundy (Sheffield) ATTENDANCE: 176 STAR MAN: Reuben Wiggins-Thomas
