All three strikers found the net as Matlock found the ninety minute performance manager Mark Atkins demanded to earn three priceless points.
Matlock led by two goals at the interval thanks to strikes from Nathan Benger and Ross Hannah, and substitute Dene Cropper put the icing on what was a tasty cake with a late third.
The Gladiators starting line up was the one which finished the 2-2 draw at Whitby four days earlier. Scott Brough was missing with knee and ankle injuries and Ben Algar's hip was not risked as Danny Wood took his place on the left of midfield with Lee Featherstone slotting in at left back once again. Joe Storer was on the bench along with Cropper, Darren Cartwright, Algar and Nick Buxton.
Worksop, in 14th spot prior to kick off are currently staging their home games at Ilkeston's New Manor Ground, a generally happy hunting place for the Gladiators, and this match continued that trend.
Leicestershire official confounded Matlock with a series of baffling decisions throughout the match, probably none more so than denying one certain, one probable and one possible penalty claims when Hannah looked to be fouled on each occasion, all within the opening eleven minutes!
The Tigers, who went into the game with injury problems, but still being able to field a strong looking line up, then beared their teeth as Adam Sollitt, once a Worksop favourite, held a Ben Tomiinson header and then a shot from Danny Bacon.
Worksop won a free kick twenty five yards out on 25 minutes and Ryan Hindley's curled effort looked like sneaking just inside Sollitt's left hand post until the goalkeeper dived to his left to superbly fingertip wide. Two minutes later a misjudgement from James Lukic let in Tomlinson but again Sollitt denied his old club with a point blank block before Featherstone hacked clear.
Within a further sixty seconds Sollitt again excelled, this time with a fine stop from Matt Glass who had been found with a long penetrating crossfield pass from Chris Adam.
This hat-trick of stops was the springboard for Matlock to go on and dominate much of the rest of the game.
Just a minute later, Hannah's vision released Danny Wood wide on the left whose far post cross was met by Hannah who volleyed a difficult chance over the bar.
But Matlock made the vital breakthrough when BENGER worried Adam Green into an error to shrug him to one side and lift an exquisite lob over the advancing Jon Kennedy in the 32nd minute.
Glass drove just wide after a break down the right, and the referee somewhat harshly booked Benger after nothing more than an accidental kick on Scott Lowe.
But the Gladiators were celebrating again on 38 minutes as Steve Warne made quick ground on the right and slipped a short pass outside for HANNAH who cut in to beat Kennedy at his near post with a fierce and slightly deflected drive which went in off the inside of the upright.
Hannah had another opportunity before the interval but missed his kick. It had been a good half for Matlock, but they knew they needed to concentrate. After all, Worksop had been three down "at home" to North Ferriby at half time in the FA Trophy seven days earlier, but forced extra time with three second half goals.
But Matlock this time were resolute and strong. The defence, much maligned so far this campaign, did its job with Simon Sturdy and Lukic, on his 450th appearance, looking unbeatable. A busy midfield with Gareth Davies running the show in the centre, covered well and broke forward with purpose. Then the strikers never stopped working.
Cropper came on for Benger on 51 minutes and immediately looked hungry to punish his former club. He won a corner through persistence o the right which Sturdy got up well to, but could only direct his header well wide. Then Liam King saw his low shot pushed out by Kennedy, the ball breaking loose to Davies, whose follow up was higher than the Clocktower End which Matlock were attacking and might have reached Awsworth!
Youngster Darren Cartwright again showed immense promise when he came on for Wood, his cross being met by Hannah, forcing Kennedy into a fine fingertip save over the bar.
Worksop came again more in hope than expectation, even though they forced four successive corners after a Glass header had again been excellently dealt with by Sollitt to begin the pressure. But Matlock shut up shop and always looked likely to score again.
Cropper saw an effort charged down after neat interplay by Warne and Adam Yates on the right, but the third goal which had always been on the cards arrived with five minutes left. Green could only head a Warne cross skywards and CROPPER kept his eye on the ball to score with a precision header which, in the end, reflected the Gladiators dominance more.
So Matlock secured three welcome points, a welcome clean sheet and a three goal margin of victory to claw back the goal difference which had suffered in recent heavy defeats at Bradford and King's Lynn. It is too early to boast that a corner has been turned, but the win, after a useful point at Whitby, is a definite step in the right direction.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Yates, Featherstone, King, Sturdy, Lukic, Davies, Warne, Benger (Cropper 51), Hannah, Wood (Cartwright 62). Other subs: Algar, Storer, Buxton.
REFEREE: G Stretton--Enderby. ATTENDANCE: 253 STAR MAN: Ross Hannah.
