WHITBY TOWN 3-3 MATLOCK TOWN (AET)
(WHITBY WON 4-2 on PENS)
It was third time lucky for Whitby in League Cup meetings against Matlock, but the Gladiators should really be celebrating a hat trick of wins against the Seasiders after leading 2-0 after the opening forty five minutes.
But two goals in four minutes hauled Whitby level after Matlock seemed to sit back and invite the pressure on themselves to send the tie into extra time. Then another soft goal gave Whitby the lead for the first time before Matlock instantly equalised only for the dreaded penalty shoot out to go Whitby's way.
This was again a cracking cup game between the two sides on a relatively mild night after the sea fog had cleared from the arena which had locals doubting whether the match could reach a conclusion, especially with extra time and penalties possibly coming into the equation.
Matlock gave a debut in goal to Jack Ward, on work experience from Doncaster Rovers with Paul Pettinger being cup tied. With Aden Flint having returned to Alfreton at the end of his stipulated 93 day loan spell, Ashley Foyle partnered Ryan Laight in central defence with Scott Brough making his first start at right back. Matty Thorpe replaced Lee Featherstone in midfield with Ross Hannah taking over from Nathan Benger in attack.
In a purposeful opening by both sides, Hannah drove too high, Paul Riley's shot was deflected wide and for Whitby, Tom Raw was denied by a last ditch clearance by Brough.
Matlock's workrate had increased since Saturday's league defeat at the same venue and they were in front on 15 minutes when Jamie Jackson cut in from the right to thread a beautifully measured pass to HANNAH who calmly drove first time across Nick Liversedge and into the bottom corner.
The visitors really needed to retain possession a little better as they allowed Whitby to attack more than they would have liked but they came perilously close to doubling their advantage when Cropper flicked on a Riley cross towards Hannah but a superbly timed challenge by Ashley Lyth at the expense of a corner stopped the former Nailer from getting in his shot.
Then young referee Gary Beswick infuriated the visitors by waving away penalty appeals as Liam King was baulked by Steve Tobin.
Ward's first meaningful contribution came in the final ten minutes of the half as he held a Karl Charlton eighteen yarder before another Whitby strike, this time from a Kevin Burgess free kick rolled comfortably wide.
With a minute of the first half left, Cropper was then savagely tackled by Lyth who should really have been booked but after the delayed free kick, Matlock looked to have extra breathing space as HANNAH placed his free kick low past Nick Liversedge's right hand and just inside a post.
Whitby went for broke with a triple substitution at the break which was to prove vital.
But Matlock remained in the comfort zone until the 62nd minute when one of the substitutes, winger Sam Garvie, blasted against the bar from 25 yards with Ward beaten.
Almost immediately though the tie could so easily have been Matlock's as Jackson, looking more up for the challenge than on Saturday, placed an excellent cross on to Cropper's head but Liversedge scrambled the ball to safety with his feet. Then the big striker was through down the inside right channel but screwed his shot wide.
The warning signs were there for Matlock. Rae pushed his shot wide in between the two Cropper chances and just a minute after the second one, Whitby had reduced the deficit, rushing to the other end and as Matlock dallied, substitute MICHAEL RAE squeezed a low shot past Ward.
Then on 76 minutes it was all square as Ward could only parry a Charlton drive and TONY HACKWORTH poked the loose ball home.
Benger replaced Cropper and was soon turning well and forcing a good stop from Liversedge after a fiercely hit blast. Then Hannah, a little quiet in the second period, curled over after drifting in from the left.
Whitby finished the statutory ninety minutes at full throttle but Matlock held grimly on to force extra time.
The Gladiators appeared to be regaining the upper hand as it needed a marvellous interception from Lyth to keep out Hannah's shot, but shoddy defending and a total lack of concentration from a free kick allowed RAE to ghost through and fire past Ward to give Whitby the lead for the first time on 98 minutes.
But Matlock's reply was instant and impressive. Straight from the restart, KING burst through to fire emphatically into the top corner.
There the scoring ended, but not the excitement. Hannah drove wide with Jackson possibly better placed to his left and Featherstone had the ball in the net but the referee had clearly blown as the shot was being made.
Then in the second period, Garvie drove a fraction too high before an equally well struck Jackson effort was beaten away by Liversedge. Hannah was unfortunate in the referee not allowing advantage as he drove clinically home before Benger could so easily have become the hero.
Jackson was again the provider and the substitute drove firmly but too close to Liversedge, who nevertheless made a creditable save.
So it was down to who could keep their nerve best from twelve yards.
Whitby went first and Rae scored only for King to see Liversedge block his spot kick. Whitby kept a 100% record with Hackworth, Charlton and Richard Forster never really looking as if they would fail. Featherstone and Jackson converted theirs but Foyle never looked confident and Liversedge made the second, important, and match wnning save to send Whitby through to a home semi final with Ilkeston.
Matlock had the game in the bag and let it slip. 120 minutes was also probably the last thing they wanted before two crucial away games at Boston and Witton. They have to dig deep and get the results they need.
A lack of leadership on the field and steel were all too evident as they let Whitby off the hook. Manager Atkins was far from pleased afterwards.
MATLOCK TOWN: Ward, Brough, Riley, King, Foyle, Laight, Jackson, Warne, Cropper (Benger 77), Hannah, Thorpe (Featherstone 90)
Other subs: Lund, Buxton.
REFEREE: G Beswick--Newton Aycliffe ATTENDANCE 132 STAR MAN: Scott Brough.
