The post Ian Holmes era began with Matlock down to the bare bones, but grit and determination, combined with no shortage of flair, saw them come home from Valerie Park with what is now becoming a usual 2-1 victory. Matlock have now won three out of four games played, each by 2-1. Even their defeat at Stamford was by a 2-1 margin! Injuries ruled out Paul Riley and Steve Taylor so Neil Ashley was called in for his first appearance of the campaign and Laurence Hall began in attack alongside the not fully fit Simon Barraclough. Positional changes saw Steve Warne pushed out to the right of midfield, Gary Webster to the left, with the central duo being Ashley and Steve Circuit. Both Phil Brown and Gareth Williams had to join young Phil Austin on the substitutes bench.

The Gladiators could not have wished for a better start going ahead inside two minutes. Hall, who had an impressive game up front, got away on the right to pull the ball back for WEBSTER to thread home a low 16 yard shot. Prescot claimed Barraclough, who took a swing at the ball after Webster's contact but missed it was offside, but the goal was given and Matlock had just the fillip they required. The lead was nearly doubled just a minute later as Hall rose above the home defence at the back post to meet a Ryan Davis centre and plant a downward header inches wide. Then a Warne cross from the right was met by Webster's header from distance which wasn't a deal further off target.

As Matlock bossed the opening exchanges, a neat move between Barraclough and Warne on 15 minutes from a right wing corner ended with Warne powerfully shooting into goalkeeper Richie Mottram's chest. A bad bounce on an uneven pitch saw Glenn Kirkwood handle and receive a 19th minute caution but Matlock were still looking the livelier side. Soon afterwards the Gladiators broke at pace through Webster and Barraclough with Ashley slicing wide from 15 yards. Ashley was bizarrely ruled offside, one of many puzzling decisions by referee Ian Nolan and his assistants. Another one followed when Kirkwood looked to have cleanly won his heading duel with Karl Connolly, but a free kick was given from which Anthony Bowden fired well off target. Connolly was then the second booking following an altercation with Ryan Laight before a previously tame Cables came to life with two chances in five minutes.

Andy Richmond did well to cut out a pull back from Eammon Price following a deep 33rd minute cross from the left before he produced a top class tip on to the crossbar from a Price header before Matlock scrambled the ball clear. Town responded with a route one attack as Hall flicked on a long Richmond clearance to Barraclough whose first time effort dropped a fraction too high and they might have gone in at the interval with more than a one goal lead. In stoppage time a great fifty yard run by Webster down the left ended disappointingly as he ran out of steam shooting weakly at Mottram. On reflection, a pass inside to the unattended Hall might have been the better option. Matlock were put on the back foot by conceding a soft 50th minute equaliser. A long free kick by Lee Smith was misjudged by Richmond and KARL BELL was credited with the final touch as the ball dropped into the net. It was now time for the Matlock defence to show their mettle and they did just that. In spite of Prescot having more of the possession for a spell, the defending was first class and it was actually the Gladiators who created the better opportunities.

After a Price cross shot was deflected narrowly wide and out for a corner, Matlock went close when a fierce Warne drive destined for the top corner deflected off Bell, but Mr Nolan infuriated players and Town supporters alike with the ridiculous decision of a goal kick. Then a neat flick from Barraclough set up Circuit whose blast was fierce and on target, but Mottram was ideally placed to hold. A couple of inches
either side and Mottram would have struggled to keep it out. Barraclough's short pass down the right let in Warne who cut inside but Mottram was off his line in a flash to narrow the angle and snuff out the threat.

Bowden and Hall were both booked for an innocuous clash before from a free kick Hall did well to clear from Bell who had for once been allowed a free header from the otherwise tight Town rearguard. But Matlock snatched the decider with thirteen minutes to go. Hall and Warne did well in the build up feeding Barraclough just inside the Cables penalty box. A neat turn followed by a cracking drive over Mottram and into the roof of the net did the damage and had Matlock well on their way to their maximum point haul. Richmond was initially slow to close down Price soon afterwards but then did well to make himself big as the Cables striker forced his shot wide. That was Prescot's last chance and Matlock sensibly and confidently retained possession in the closing minutes with both Hall and Wide firing wide and Ashley lifting a shot too high. The Matlock fans were in full voice hailing an excellent three points when Mr Nolan whistled for full time to end his own personal nightmare.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Davis, Circuit, Kirkwood, Lukic, Webster, Warne, Hall, Barraclough, Ashley. Subs not used: Austin, Brown, Williams. REFEREE: I Nolan (Bury) ATTENDANCE: 185 STAR MAN: Gary Webster