Two second half goals not only ended the Gladiators interest in the UniBond League Challenge Cup but gave hosts Nantwich a second home win in 2010 against them and a hat-trick of victories for the season.
Once former Derby striker Marvin Robinson had headed the Dabbers in front on 62 minutes, the hosts took control of the tie and made sure of a visit to Mickleover Sports on Wednesday with a second goal a quarter of an hour later as substitute Michael Lennon was on hand to meet a low ball although Matlock's Adam Yates might have got the all important final contact.
There was a major boost for Matlock ahead of kick off as goalkeeper Adam Soitt was fit enough for a recall after two months out with ankle ligament damage. But boss Mark Atkins granted James Lukic special leave with the fast impending birth of his second child and he rested Ross Hannah and Nathan Joynes who were both on the substitutes bench. Yates partnered Mark Haran in central defence, Danny Wood and Ben Algar were back on the flanks and the front two were Dene Cropper and Nathan Benger.
The game got the go ahead at the fifth time of asking and there was little to enthuse a sparse 131 crowd in the opening exchanges. Liam King fashioned a shooting chance, only to thread a gentle but accurate effort at goalkeeper Lee Jones.
Defences were generally in command but Nantwich were having more of the play. On 25 minutes they forced a couple of quick corners and from the second, defender Richie Sutton flicked a near post header too high.
Kevin Street cut in from the left to shoot powerfully but narrowly wide as Nantwich upped the tempo. Sollitt was out swiftly to deny Robinson who had sneaked clear before Glyn Blackhurst shot wide when picking up the bits from a blocked Ross Davidson long ranger.
But Matlock broke forward as the half came to a close. Cropper knocked a Lee Featherstone ball towards Benger who slid in on Jones to knock towards goal but Sutton was alert to cover. Then when Wood weaved his way through the centre before finding Warne with a short but effective pass, Matlock's skipper for the night curled a fine attempt inches beyond Jones' left hand post. King was yellow carded on the accumulation principle on the stroke of half time for bringing down Davidson on the touchline.
The visitors won a free kick four minutes into the second half which nearly brought them the opening goal. Wood's long delivery was colected by Algar on the left who crossed for Haran to head forward with Cropper swivelling to stab a half chance past the post from eight yards. That was Cropper's last contribution as Hannah, who scored in the New Years Day 2-1 defeat on the same ground, came on to add pace.
Soon afterwards a teasing Algar centre was knocked behind at the back post by full back Chris Flynn when maybe Benger might have gambled. But Benger was soon back in the action, robbing the indecisive Davidson and curling an instant twenty yarder a whisker beyond that same upright.
King drove high and not so handsomely over after being found by Wood but the feeling was that it was Nantwich's extra sharpness that would win the day. Featherstone's marvellous last ditch interception from Street's long centre stopped Carter at the back post, but the breakthrough wasn't long in coming.
ROBINSON, scorer of the New Years Day winner, rose majestically to head a peach of a Carter cross powerfully past Sollitt. Minutes later he nearly made it two, but slid against the post instead of taking the ball with him when Dave McPherson's low cross shot fizzed across the six yard box.
Joynes came on for Wood, but Nantwich were now in the ascendancy and after Sollitt held a scorcher from Street, they booked their trip to Mickleover Sports in the 4th Round when McPherson tried to play in substitute and prolific scorer Lennon, but it looked as if YATES got the final agonising touch to deflect past Sollitt.
Brough did well to clear his lines after Sollitt had parried McPherson's well struck twenty five yarder and Robinson was an ace away from finishing off a Flynn cross.
Hannah chased a seemingly lost cause as the tie entered stoppage time to cut in from the right and force Jones into a smart save low to his left.
Nantwich deserved their victory, but Matlock fought hard and the two goal margin was slightly flattering. The hosts are a strong side who should finish in the top six come the end of April.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates, Scott Brough, Liam King (Darren Cartwright 79), Mark Haran, Lee Featherstone, Danny Wood (Nathan Joynes 72), Steve Warne, Dene Cropper (Ross Hannah 53), Nathan Benger, Ben Algar. Subs not used: Danny Gregory, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: A Clayton--Hyde. ATTENDANCE: 131 STAR MAN: Steve Warne.
