Matlock battled their way through to the Cawarden Derbyshire Senior Cup Final for the second season in a row with a narrow and hard fought victory over a plucky New Mills outfit.
Goals from Ross Hannah, his 22nd of the season, and Danny Wood, although Lee Featherstone claimed he got a slight touch, sandwiched an equaliser from Tommy Turner, before Featherstone received his marching orders late on for a lunging tackle on Steve Brackenbridge.
Having won their last three league games, Matlock boss Mark Atkins was happy to name an unchanged starting eleven for the third succressive game. Ben Algar, returned on the bench at the expense of youngster Josh Wain after suspension.
Wet weather since the weekend left the Causeway Lane pitch heavy and sticky, but the conditions failed to hamper Matlock's progress in the early exchanges, with the match being played out in the Millers half.
But Matlock could not fashion a clear chance until they took a 12th minute lead. A free kick from Wood was flicked on and HANNAH turned quickly to glide a low drive into the opposite corner for another top drawer finish in an already personal rewarding campaign.
Shortly afterwards though the Vodkat North West Counties League Premier Division underdogs, two divisions below Matlock in the Non League Pyramid, won a free kick of their own which was likewise helped on and Peter Band's deflected effort bounced conveniently to Adam Sollitt.
Scott Brough's break down the right saw his cross reach Nathan Joynes who could only deflect the ball wide, but there was soon a shock for the Gladiators as the Millers drew level with a well worked goal in the 20th minute. Much of the credit must go to winger Adam Mather, who showed Brough a clean pair of heels down the left, before crossing low and accurately for TOMMY TURNER to force home from six yards.
New Mills had grown in confidence and were generally giving as good as they were receiving.
However they had goalkeeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes to thank on 28 minutes as Steve Warne surged through from midfield to smash in a fierce twenty yarder which the double barrelled named custodian beat away.
At the other end band fired wide after Brackenbridge beat Featherstone on the right flank to deliver a teasing centre which James Lukic helped away to Nathan Wharton who drove disappointingly wide.
The half ended with Liam King's shot being charged down. Matlock knew they were in a game.
The Millers began the second half on the attack and when Steve Hall was brought down by King, Wharton wasted the 25 yard free kick by skying high over the bar at the Town End.
Then Matlock were within a lick of paint of regaining the lead thanks to another moment of Hannah magic. Found by Warne out on the right, a speedy turn saw him unleash a peach of a curling shot which struck the far post and rebounded to safety.
But a less well struck effort in the 54th minute decided the tie.
WOOD threaded a free kick across the Millers penalty box which eluded virtually everyone, except perhaps Featherstone, who may have got the slightest of touches as Ingram-Hughes stood motionless with the ball nestling low inside his left hand post. Atkins said afterwards the goal would go to Wood.
Another Wood free kick nearly brought about more Matlock jubilation as Lukic rose unchallenged to glance wide from eight yards just after the hour.
That would have put the game to bed but New Mills pushed Matlock deep into their own territory. A flick from substitute Gary Kharas fell to Mather who sliced horribly wide with the hosts struggling to stem the tide. Adam Yates, alongside Lukic was a tower of strength at the back.
King shot too high from a Joynes lay off but New Mills came again with Turner narrowly off target and Mather initially beating Brough before a beautifully timed tackle by the full back earned a visitors corner which Sollitt held well.
When Featherstone departed on 79 minutes, it looked as if it would be a backs to the wall job for Matlock, particularly without Hannah who was feeling his hamstring and had been replaced six minutes earlier.
But Mark Haran came on to stiffen the back line, and conversely Matlock looked more in control then they had done with eleven players.
The Millers did not threaten again. King came closest to a goal firing at Ingram-Hughes from one of a succession of well worked corners. Matlock used their nouse to comfortably retain possession in the corners in one of the strangest periods of play perhaps witnessed at the Lane all season.
The fire had been extinguished from the Millers bellies and Matlock had edged through. It wasn't pretty, but resolve, hard work and spirit had seen them win through to a showdown with local rivals Belper Town.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Scott Brough, Lee Featherstone, Liam King, Adam Yates, James Lukic, Darren Cartwright (Mark Haran 80), Steve Warne, Nathan Joynes, Ross Hannah (Nathan Benger 73), Danny Wood (Ben Algar 70) Other subs: Dene Cropper, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: P I Thompson--Chesterfield. ATTENDANCE: 180. STAR MAN: Adam Yates.
