Match Reports

Matlock's much improved performance brought them a welcome point from Saturday's derby trip to Sandy Lane to restore some pride after the mauling at Buxton.

Although they failed in breaking a winless run now stretching to two months, and deficiencies still exist, there was enough spirit and character there to suggest that better results are just around the corner.

At present, the Gladiators seldom look like keeping a clean sheet with their defence being under more pressure than joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams would like. They are also conceding cheap goals, like Worksop's first, which puts extra pressure on the strikers to do the business at the other end. They rode their luck in the early stages as Worksop stormed forward, but once they had weathered the storm, they began to look dangerous themselves as the Worksop defence had equal problems in keeping their goal intact.

Both Paul Riley and Steve Taylor passed late fitness checks, with Taylor back in the side for his first slice of action since that last victory at Lincoln United on November 17. Steve Circuit was also recalled to the midfield with Gary Webster on the left flank and Jamie Donnelly Jackson on the right. Former Tigers Matty Caudwell, Ryan Davis and Dene Cropper all missed out for various reasons although Caudwell found a place on the substitutes bench.

The Sandy Lane arena was in great condition in spite of the heavy rain of Friday and the Gladiators were soon pushed back as the Tigers showed their teeth early on. Giant former Mansfield Town striker Andy White fired into the sidenetting and glanced a headerat Andy Richmond before Anthony Jackson popped up from central defence to nod past a post.

But the big escape for the visitors came in the 15th minute when indecision in their defence was very nearly punished by Kevin Sanasay but the former Bradford City forward lobbed against the bar with Donnelly Jackson back to complete the clearance.

Three minutes later and against the run of the early play, Matlock might have nicked the lead when Steve Taylor burst down the inside right channel and home custodian Laurence Matthewson, who had a nightmare game in Matlock's 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at the Geoquip Stadium in September, stood up well to beat away Taylor's powerful strike. Soon afterwards Donnelly Jackson's break down the right ended with Taylor's shot deflecting off Barraclough's back to bring an end to a promising situation.

But on 22 minutes, Matlock breathed a sigh of relief once more.The ball broke to Steve Woolley on the edge of the box who shot goalwards but Ryan Laight popped up to clear off the line.

Ten minutes later Worksop were to regret not taking those early opportunities when Matlock went ahead with a well constructed goal. Webster found space on the left to turn and cross into the danger zone where Taylor headed back across the six yard box for SIMON BARRACLOUGH to prod in.

Steve Robinson curled a free kick wide for the hosts and when Barraclough did well to rob Kevin Dawson, two passes which could have put Taylor and Webster clear were cut out superbly.

Hopes of Matlock holding an interval lead were destroyed as the Gladiators gifted Worksop a 42nd minute equaliser. David Cockerill floated in a corner from the right and neither Richmond nor his defenders got in a telling challenge as JACKSON stole in virtually unnoticed to glance a powerful header into the bottom corner.

To their credit Matlock started the second half with purpose and both Donnelly Jackson and Circuit had shots charged down following a free kick awarded for a foul on Riley. But Worksop rallied for Richmond to hold a well struck Cockerill try before they went ahead with a superbly struck effort from SANASAY in the 65th minute.

From a fortuitious free kick, Sanasay gave Richmond no chance whatsoever with a low 25 yard piledriver which ripped into the bottom corner to the goalkeeper's left. If greater effort could have been made to prevent the equaliser, there was little anyone could have done to prevent the Tigers from taking the lead.

Now Matlock had to stand firm as Worksop sought a killer third goal. They did and the introduction of Caudwell for Neil Ashley on 78 minutes soon gave the Gladiators joy.

Two minutes later Caudwell combined with RILEY on the left, the substitute slipping a short pass to the advancing former Notts County man who fired a low 22 yard blast along the turf which left Matthewson flat footed.

Both sides then could have collected the extra two points through their substitutes. Curtis Bernard and Jermaine Palmer for Worksop and Matlock's Laurence Hall all had headers which were a whisker away from finding the onion bag.

It was a good point for Matlock who must now build on their fighting performance and try and gain the win which is proving elusive at the moment. If they can become less generous in the manner in which they concede goals, their task will be all the easier.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Riley, Ashley (Caudwell 78), Hannigan, Lukic, Webster, Circuit, Taylor (Hall 84), Barraclough (Benger 88), Donnelly-Jackson.