Matlock fully deserved to extend thier unbeaten run to five games thanks to a stoppage time equaliser from Ross Hannah in the rather spartan surroundings of Cannon Park on Saturday.
The Gladiators were every bit as good as their third placed hosts who have invested heavily on an eexperienced squad, but their neglect of their ground could come back to haunt them with relegation if improvements are not in place by the end of next month.
The game passed a morning pitch inspection, although conditions were far from ideal on a bobbly, muddy surface.
Town boss Mark Atkins had watched Retford on three separate occasions this season and had warned that they were the best attacking side in the league, so his team selection probably reflected that with Mark haran being recalled in central defence alongside James Lukic, with Adam Yates moving to right back. Scott Brough was pushed forward into the right of midfield with Darren cartwright dropping to a very attack minded substitutes bench.
Matlock took the early initiative and were nearly rewarded in the 6th minute when Retford had their goalkeeper James Lindley to thank for keeping them level. Hannah's thunderbolt of a free kick was superbly tipped over the bar.
Retford replied for Adam sollitt to push away a shot on the run from Barbadian international Neil Harvey before Sollitt beat away another Harvey strike. Then Harvey's back header dropped wide but Matlock had enjoyed most of the possession thus far.
The tireless Liam King broke down the left and his teasing cross was headed out by the stretching Nicky Ellis, before Lee Featherstone swung in a centre that dropped on to the top of the bar.
But it was the Badgers who came closest to breaking the deadlock as a quick turn from Darryl Thomas saw him rifle a fierce strike against the Matlock crossbar from twenty yards. Retford earned encouragement from that and colin Marrison rose at the far post to meet a Stuart Ludlam cross but headed straight at the well placed Sollitt.
Matlock responded with Nathan Joynes heading down a cross from Yates, the ball finding King who drove wide. and Town should really have won a spot kick when Joynes was manhandled by home skipper Michael Simpkins but referee Keith Lawson, unpopular with the visiting support throughout, failed to administer any punishment.
When the second half got under way, a Hannah back header failed to test Lindley and Ellis shot over from distance for the hosts who took the lead on 50 minutes. For once, Matlock were left to rue poor defending as Marrison escaped down the left to cross for the unmarked CHRIS BETTNEY, often a scorer against Town who in fact had headed Retford's winner at Causeway Lane in October, to sweep home.
Ben Algar replaced Danny Wood before Simpkins pulled Joynes back again and was this time booked. From the free kick, Hannah again hammered in a fierce shot which again produced an excellent save from Lindley.
Nathan Benger replaced Brough with a quarter of an hour left as Matlock kept up their assault. Haran's firm header from a corner was unfortunately for thre visitors, right down Lindley's throat.
However, Matlock needed a top quality save from Sollitt to remain in contention, as he superbly tipped away a stinging Harvey effort. Then Thomas headed well wide.
Matlock's last throw of the dice was to bring on Dene Cropper for Featherstone, and it appeared their chance of a draw had disappeared when hannah stooped to nod an Algar cross narrowly and agonisingly wide with just four minutes to go.
But the Gladiators persistence paid off when in the first minute of stoppage time, Benger flicked on a Yates free kick for HANNAH to smash in an unstoppable twelve yard shot before racing away to celebrate with the Gladiators travelling support behind the goal.
Few would deny Matlock deserved their goal and their point, which put a dent in Retford's title charge. A very proud Atkins said afterwards he would not swap one of his players for any of Retford's. It had been a performance full of spirit, grit and determination on a difficult pitch in a ground out in the middle of nowhere with very little atmosphere.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Yates, Featherstone (Cropper 84), King, Haran, Lukic, Brough (Benger 75), Warne, Joynes, Hannah, Wood (Algar 58) Other subs: Cartwright, Buxton.
REFEREE: K Lawson--Scunthorpe ATTENDANCE: 321 STAR MAN: Liam King.
