Matlock thoroughly deserved to stretch their unbeaten run to six games with a solid, workmanlike performance on a heavy Causeway Lane surface.
The shock of conceding the first goal when Andrew Campbell netted on 15 minutes failed to knock them out of their stride. They were in front by the interval thanks to a Liam King header in the 32nd minute and a close range James Lukic finish a minute before the interval. Leading scorer Ross Hannah wrapped up the victory in stoppage time at the end of the game.
The Gladiators gave a debut to Alfreton Town loanee Jordan Hall on the right of midfield. Danny Wood dropped to the bench in the only change to the starting line up which had drawn at Retford seven days earlier, although Scott Brough did swap flanks, operating down the left.
A much improved Whitby arrived above Matlock, but by the end, the Gladiators did a professional job on them and moved above them into 11th position.
Matlock began well with Hall firing past the far post as unusually, the Gladiators attacked the cricket pitch end in the first half. They played some neat, incisive football, and it came as a surprise when the Seasiders went ahead against the run of the play.
Former Middlesbrough and Bradford City striker CAMPBELL took full advantage to thread in a twenty yarder just inside Adam Sollitt's right hand post after the home defenders stood off him.
Matlock needed a positive response and they got one.Hall again found room on the right, finding Hannah who dragged his shot wide when well placed.
But there was an even better chance for the Gladiators in the 26th minute as Hall again crossed and Nathan Joynes, with no-one near him, headed straight at goalkeeper Ben Escritt.
Hannah uncharacteristically miskicked when set up by Joynes but Matlock didn't have too long to wait for the equaliser, with Escritt at fault.
Scott Brough, possibly having his best game of the season, crossed from the left and surprisingly it was KING, one of the smaller players on show, who outjumped Escritt to nod gently in.
It was due reward for King who again put in a tireless performance in the Gladiators' engine room.
Soon afterwards another ball from Hall somehow made its way through to Hannah who flicked an effort narrowly too high.
Sollitt had a rare piece of the action by holding a shot from substitute Alex Gildea but the play was soon back at the other end as Matlock piled on the pressure.
Steve Warne drove too high after a surging run and a succession of corners followed.
Whitby cracked when a flag kick was knocked down and LUKIC slammed home from six yards to give the Gladiators a well deserved half time lead.
After the interval Matlock worked like trojans to preserve their lead. Visiting skipper, former Leeds and Notts County striker Tony Hackworth,saw a deflected strike comfortably held by Sollitt. But with Mark Haran having him in his pocket, Whitby's threat was a subdued one.
Local match official Kevin Marchant then had a piece of the action on the line when assistant referee Ross Crawford limped away with a calf injury in the 56th minute.
Campbell shot wide from long range but towards the end Matlock were in complete control.
A lick of paint prevented Hannah from scoring definitely the goal of the season at Causeway lane, if not the best goal ever on 83 minutes. Out on the touchline and back at the half way line, without warning he hit an audacious strike which caught Escritt completely unawares as it struck the bar.
Hannah then used more conventional means as he sped down the left and crossed low and hard dangerously across the Seasiders' penalty box.
A Brough cross was deflected wide and from a corner, Haran headed powerfully goalwards only to see it cleared off the line.
But the points were confirmed as staying in Derbyshire when in the second minute of stoppage time, Lee Featherstone's punt forward caught Whitby square and short at the back. HANNAH ran through to guide the calmest of finishes past Escritt.
Matlock left the field to a deserved ovation, having got their just desserts from a terrific performance.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates, Lee Featherstone, Liam King, Mark Haran, James Lukic, Scott Brough, Steve Warne, Nathan Joynes, Ross Hannah, Jordan Hall (Danny Wood 79). Other suns: Ben Algar, Nathan Benger, Darren Cartwright, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: C Rushton--Stone ATTENDANCE: 302 STAR MAN: Liam King.
