MATLOCK TOWN 3-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED
Matlock overran a youthful Blades side with a feast of slick attacking football to easily win Tuesday night's pre-season friendly at Causeway Lane.
The 260 crowd who turned out on a wet night certainly had their money's worth as the Gladiators turned on the style with a display of such panache and skill which will give their fans real hope of some exciting times in the coming forty weeks.
Of course far sterner challenges than that provided by the United siblings lie ahead. Matlock had time in abundance and acres of space to strutt their stuff, luxuries that they are not going to enjoy too often in the hustle and bustle of the UniBond Premier Division this season. But Matlock also worked hard off the ball, denying United space as their strength constantly saw the visitors attacks peter out with barely a whimper.
Joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams gave a strong hint of the formation they might open the season with as all three strikers, Dene Cropper, Simon Barraclough and Ross Hannah starting with Barraclough tucked in the hole between the midfield three and Cropper and Hannah.
And the former Belper striker was within a whisker of putting Matlock ahead on 7 minutes. Found by Barraclough, he blasted goalwards early and goalkeeper Kang Ho Lee was mightily relieved as Hannah's 22 yard cracker flew narrowly high and wide.
Liam King, operating from right back, burst forward six minutes later to win a great tackle some twenty five yards from goal and his shot was comfortably held by Ho Lee.
But the exotically named custodian was beaten in the 16 th minute when the Gladiators forced a left wing corner and Jamie Jackson's superb delivery had him stretching desperately as it was played into the danger area and ASHLEY FOYLE was on hand to force in the loose ball.
Hannah looks as if he can create a chance for himself out of nothing and he did just that seven minutes later, swivelling quickly before watching a well struck drive drift a yard wide.
And the Causeway Lane faithful were clapping enthusiastically again within another four minutes as full back Lee Featherstone got the Gladiators moving down the left, finding Barraclough whose slide rule crossfield pass saw Jackson go streaking past his marker only for his cross to be ushered out for another corner.
A second goal was in the offing and it duly arrived after a calamitous communication breakdown between Maxime Chanot and Ho Lee saw the former's back pass fall drastically short. BARRACLOUGH was on to the error in a flash and both Blades players were left with egg on their faces as the Town skipper glided a marvellous inch perfect finish into the net from out on the left.
United threatened briefly as the interval approached with King providing a fine block to divert Luca Senacanin's shot for a corner before for once, Town's defending was awry as the flag kick was quickly taken and Zane S-Lafet tried to reach the cross from Nicky Travis but sliced wide under pressure from Ryan Laight and Foyle.
Matlock were good value for their two goal advantage and immediately set about stretching the lead after the resumption.
The first of many dazzling solo runs by Jackson ended with a cross drive narrowly wide of the back post. The former Chesterfield winger deserved a goal but on each of many times he broke clear, the finish was not there.
But the third Gladiators goal was not long in coming as the pressure towards the Cricket End was unrelenting and after Steve Warne's drive was scrambled off the line, RYAN LAIGHT blasted in his first ever Town goal with a 12 yard strike that any forward would have been proud of.
As well as the numerous Jackson runs and chances, Laight might have scored again only to be denied by a tremendous Ho Lee save and after Jackson had released Hannah, the goalkeeper again kept United in the match, diving bravely at Hannah's feet.
During this spell, S-LAFET's close range finish saw him convert Senacanin's left wing cross to give the Blades a glimmer of hope with twenty five minutes to go. But it was never going to worry Matlock too much and Nathan Benger, hungry for more goals after his quickfire hat-trick at Rainworth three days earlier, might have made the scoreline even more emphatic.
His long ranger had Ho Lee beaten but skidded inches past the keeper's left upright and when Luke Federenko crossed from the left, Ho Lee was even more fortunate as he could only watch Benger's top class header rebound off the opposite post with the all at sea Blades defence desperately conceding a corner as the ball dropped on top of the net.
MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, King, Featherstone, Harrison (Caudwell 63) (Webster 70), Laight, Foyle, Jackson, Warne, Cropper (Benger 71), Barraclough, Hannah (Federenko 71).
REFEREE: Rob Shoebridge (Heage) ATTENDANCE: 260 STAR MAN: Simon Barraclough.
