Teversal 0-3 Matlock Town
Matlock began their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at Teversal as Mark Atkins gave all the squad a good run out.
The Gladiators took the initiative from the off, and early chances from King and Thorpe crept over the bar, before on eight minutes, Jason Hardy edged the Blues in front. It was a scrappy headed effort from a cross from Danny Wood, but Hardy showed courage to nip in and nod the ball home.
And Hardy didn’t have to wait long for his 2nd goal for Matlock. Excellent work down the left by Featherstone culminated in a pin point cross for Hardy to tap in from 6 yards.
Matlock were solid at the back with skipper Mark ‘Jugs’ Haran controlling things well on debut, and indeed Haran could have made it three as he pulled off his marker only to head straight at the keeper.
Wholesale changes at half time didn’t really change the pattern of play and Featherstone continued his excellent work as a make shift striker linking well with partner Jason Hardy. Featherstone got his reward on 55 minutes as Ian Clarke slotted him in down the left channel and he guided the ball home from the edge of the area.
An early season contender for miss of the season from Paul Riley only prevented the score being more one sided as the game petered out towards the end. Pettinger was almost a total spectator throughout as the Matlock defence, minus James Lukic who was at a wedding, held firm. All in all this was an excellent start to the year, and without the three regular strikers, Hannah, Cropper and Benger, Matlock also did well up front.
There will be tougher tests to follow, but early signs were promising as the new Unibond league season gets ever closer.
Att 145
Matlock: Pettinger, Yates, Stratford, King, Haran, Foyle, Brough, Thorpe, Hardy, Featherstone, Wood
Subs (half time) Riley, Warne, Clarke, Laight, Pendleton, Storer, Cartwright for Haran, Foyle, Stratford, Yates, Wood, Thorpe and King
