Matlock Town 0-1 Warrington Town
Matlock can have no complaints at another disappointing early exit from a major cup competition following a shapeless and spineless display against lower league opponents.
Quite simply the First Division North strugglers deserved the victory as they appeared to want the win more as the Gladiators lacked cohesion, determination and the creativity to break down the Warrington defence. If one of two great chances had gone in, it would probably have been a different story, but equally the visitors had chances before substitute Carl Rendell's 71st minute decider.
While skipper Simon Barraclough passed a late fitness test on his strained groin, Matty Caudwell failed his, so Shaun Pendleton was given the left back birth, meaning the one change from the side victorious against North Ferriby was the return of Liam King who slotted into central midfield. Steve Warne was again pushed out to the left, for the opening 53 minutes, before Pendleton was replaced by Gary Webster which allowed Warne to revert to his more familiar role.
The opening exchanges were a sign of what was to come. It was a scrappy battle, with the game crying out for Matlock's more creative members to take the game by the scruff of the neck and impose some calm and quality.
Matlock came close to taking a 7th minute lead as Barraclough fired firmly against a post. But the skipper was being asked once again to operate wide on the right, and although circumstances may have demanded it, the feeling was that too many players were out of position.
Warrington didn't threaten until the 18th minute when Richmond advanced swiftly to boot clear from Phil Hadland. Three minutes later a misunderstanding in the home defence ly let in Kevin Towey, but fortunately from the Matlock viewpoint, the Warrington striker shot well off target.
Richie Mottram held a well struck Liam King effort and Richmond did likewise from Francis Smith, but the Wires had a great chance on 36 minutes. With the Gladiators having switched off, Towey skipped around Richmond only to direct his finish wide of a vacant net.
But with half time approaching, Matlock should have taken full advantage of Towey's miss as Ross Hannah was clear with just Mottram to beat, but the ball bobbled awkwardly for the Gladiators leading scorer who watched in horror as his shot flashed past Mottram's right hand post.
Warrington enjoyed a largely trouble free second half as Matlock continued to huff and puff. As the visitors belief increased, they took a grip on the game. A Scott Williams drive drifted harmlessly beyond the back stick and after some initial hesitation from Richmond, the goalkeeper just managed to grab the ball off Hadland's toes.
Matlock's reply was a Hannah cross plucked expertly out of the air by Morttram, a curled King effort which was too high and Barraclough choosing the wrong option of a floated attempt, rather than choosing power.
But Warrington looked the more likely to break the deadlock and they came within a lick of paint from doing so on 62 minutes when the hard working Anthony Daniels crashed in a twenty five yarder which beat Richmond's dive to cannon off Richmond's right hand post.
Richmond then turned aside an attempt by Towey but Warrington made Matlock pay dearly for their lethargy. Substitute CARL RENDELL had only been on the field for seven minutes, and he ended up being the Wires' hero, lashing a low right foot strike past Richmond from just inside the penalty box. Richmond this time stood no chance of keeping the ball out.
The 71st minute strike ought to have been a wake up call for Matlock but in truth they seldom looked like saving themselves.Just two minutes later Richmond held another Daniels strike before surprisingly, Dene Cropper was replaced by Nathan Benger with eleven minutes left.
The nearest Matlock came to salvaging a replay was when Rob Pacey glanced wide on 88 minutes. Four minutes of stoppage time followed, but had the game gone on until midnight, it is doubtful whether Matlock would have scored.
Few in a blue shirt earned their corn. Matty Thorpe worked tirelessly with little help in midfield and Rob Pacey had another solid game. Richmond could not be faulted but that was just about it.
Defeat meant that the Gladiators are penniless from prize money in FA Competitions this season. The Ilkeston FA Cup exit was perhaps understandable given their start to the season even if the losing margin wasn't. But Saturday's feeble show was just not acceptable and the boos from the fans at the final whistle told their own story.
MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Pendleton (Webster 53), Thorpe, Pacey, Featherstone, Hannah, Warne, Cropper (Benger 79), Barraclough, King. Other subs: Harrison, Norbury, Federenko.
REFEREE: D Naylor (Sutton-in-Ashfield) ATTENDANCE: 242 STAR MAN: Matty Thorpe.
