Matlock fans have only seldom seen an exciting game at Ingfield, and yet again they witnessed a poor, shapeless encounter which had 0-0 written all over it long before the end.
Neither goalkeeper had much to do as both sides struggled to keep the ball on a bobbly surface with a swirling wind also playing its part.Ossett used the hoofball approach and Matlock fell into the trap somewhat.
Even when the visitors had a man advantage for thre final twenty eight minutes, they still could not dominate the game.
Home centre back David Cyrus was red carded for a foul and a subsequent unprovoked assault on Ross Hannah. Matlock had even introduced the extra striker in Nathan Joynes, but the Gladiators appeared shot shy and Liam Sutcliffe in the Ossett goal had a comfortable time.
Unsurprisingly manager Mark Atkins kept faith with the side which had demolished Burscough in midweek, hoping for a repeat. But Ossett, with two draws in their opening two games, never allowed Matlock to settle and sought to impose some early authority kicking down the pronounced slope.
Again, Matlock defended magnificently and only had one scare on 16 minutes when Ossett made ground down the left to let in centre forward Dave Boardman. Adam Sollitt pulled off a fine save to keep out Boardman's low shot.
Adam Yates always looked dangerous as he attacked up the right and his low cross heralded the start of a succession of Matlock corners. From the third on 32 minutes, Mark Haran rose majestically to head home, but referee Alfie Greenwood had somehow spotted an offence. It was harsh on Haran and Matlock as it looked to be perfectly legitimate with Haran showing greater desire and strength than his marker to reach the ball.
Seven minutes later Hannah had an awkward bouncing chance which was deflected wide before a frustrating half ended with Boardman being booked for a late challenge on Yates.
Hannah drove well over the bar immediately after the restart and then Brough was yellow carded for fouling Mark Wilson.
Nathan Joynes, scorer of the winner at Ossett last season, and the one change on the bench in place of Dene Cropper, was sent on for Ben Algar on 57 minutes. A Steve Warne effort was pushed away by Sutcliffe before Cyrus went for his early bath.
Matlock though were still well shackled by a home defence including former Gladiator Ryan Laight who received plenty of banter from the travelling fans.
Yates burst forward to try his luck but again, sadly, the shot was well off target as it sailed out of the ground.
Ossett had clearly settled for the point. Hannah's difficult header was high and wide and Joynes could not connect with a deflected Yates cross.
The referee added five minutes stoppage time, but if he had added a great deal more, a breakthrough would not have come.
The positives for Matlock are that they remained unbeaten, with three clean sheets and in fourth spot. They would probably have taken seven out of nine points to begin their campaign.
The nagging feeling among fans though was that this was probably two points dropped.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates, Scott Brough, Kris Bowler, Mark Haran, James Lukic, James Knowles, Steve Warne, Colin Marrison, Ross Hannah, Ben Algar (Nathan Joynes 57) Other subs: Lee Featherstone, Kris Witcombe, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: A Greenwood--York. ATTENDANCE: 166 STAR MAN: Adam Yates
