STOCKSBRIDGE PS 2-0 MATLOCK TOWN
Matlock looked strangely out of sorts at the Look Local Stadium as they were deservedly beaten by their UniBond First Division South hosts who treated this latest pre season friendly more like an ordinary league game than the Gladiators.
Apart from the last twenty minutes of the first half, Matlock seldom looked like taking the spoils and they finally succumbed to two second half goals from the Steels, who on this performance, should do well in the season ahead.
Matlock paired skipper Simon Barraclough and Ross Hannah in attack while Jamie Jackson was given licence to run at his full back down the right. But given the promise in that selection, Matlock never really got going, and when they did get on top, sometimes the final pass was found to be lacking.
Lee Featherstone's stern challenge on Dean Sidebottom left the Steels full back prostrate on the soggy turf in the opening minutes, but it didn't deter a busy Stocksbridge side, managed by former Matlock boss Gary Marrow, and who included a Gladiator from last season, Neil Ashley, in their starting line up.
Soon Andy Richmond was scrambling across his goal to keep out an effort from Andy Hurst before striker |Mark Ward's free header was too high in what could only be termed as a worryingly inauspicious start by Matlock.
Stocksbridge were gaining a succession of free kicks and from an award on 16 minutes, Tom Jowitt cleverly released Alvin Riley down te left and Richmond produced a smashing save from Jamie Vardy when the centre came. Then when another free kick was floated to the back post, Richmond was well placed to hold a Richard Adams header.
Matlock finally eased the pressure on 20 minutes when Jackson, sometimes good and other times frustrating,fed Barraclough whose fierce 22 yarder was narrowly too high.Then Jackson's teasing cros after a short corner from the left defeated everyone , before Hannah was quickly on to a throw from the left to drive fiercely but a foot off target. A promising break with Jackson on the right only brought a corner when a better cross would have given Barraclough an easy tap in. Another corner saw Matlock's best opportunity drop to Ashley Foyle whose downward thumping header was superbly kept out by goalkeeper Dave Radcliffe.
But Matlock could not reproduce that form in the second half and after Hurst had served notice of his intentions in breaking down the right, another such foray led to the opening goal on 53 minutes when Wared dummied the low cross and RILEY, also up in support, drilled home from 12 yards.
Riley then went off but his replacement Andy Ring was soon tormenting Town and he too latched on to a Hurst cross to drive high and wide. Matlock were under the cosh as Hirst twice shot beyond the far post with one being deflected and Steve Wilkinson nodding a Ring cross inches wide.
There was brief respite for the Gladiators when substitute goalkeeper Hewitt lost a free kick from substitute Matty Caudwell and Simon Harrison's instant 25 yard strike dipped just too late.
But Stocksbridge always looked more likely to add a second goal which arrived with three minutes to go as Ring's cross shot had Richmond at full stretch. But despite the goalkeeper's noble effort, the ball fell to substitute CHRIS PURVEY who scrambled in from point blank range.
The game posed more questions than find more answers but it is as well any problems are discovered and ironed out now. Ryan Davis and Richmond can look back on a good night's work and Matty Thorp battled hard while he was on the field. A lot of the others though had an off day and Matlock paid the price.
MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Fearon (Laight 58), Featherstone, King (Caudwell 65), Davis, Foyle,Jackson (Pidcock 85), Warne, Hannah (Webster 78), Barraclough (Cropper 60), Thorpe (Harrison 54).
REFEREE: C Ward (Sheffield) ATTENDANCE: 100 est STAR MAN: Ryan Davis.
