Basford United vs Matlock Town FC
Basford United
2Greenwich Avenue
Northern Premier League
Matlock Town FC
1Match Report
Basford United battled back from a goal down to score a 95th minute winner as a patched up Matlock side suffered defeat on their travels once again.
A dull first-half was followed by a much better spectacle in the second, the Gladiators taking the lead early on but then tiring and seeing the hosts finish strongly to maximum effect.
It meant a crucial three points for United in their battle to avoid the drop, while for Matlock it was a 12th league defeat on the road this season.
The Gladiators gave a first start to young goalkeeper Myles Wright, in for the suspended Saul Deeney, while Harry Wood was forced to deputise at centre-half with George Wilkinson, Adam Yates and Nathan Whitehead all unavailable.
Wright looked comfortable throughout while Wood also impressed in an unfamiliar role.
The first-half saw few clear cut chances, Tav Kuleya firing too high early on then Wright’s first task being to gather Kane Richards’ low shot.
Wood headed wide from a Curtis Durose corner on 17 minutes, although it seemed his effort took a deflection off a Basford defender on its way past the post, another corner not given.
Remaye Campbell headed wide from a free-kick moments later at the other end, before Matlock’s best chance of the half saw Durose do well down the right and pull back for Kuleya in space but he scuffed his shot into the ground and up into the air and keeper Kieran Preston gathered the ball.
Wright then produced a good save to push Jack Thomas’s 25-yarder wide of the post, half-time arriving without any further worries for either side.
It all changed seconds after the restart. Kuleya’s shot struck the hand of defender Victor Nirennold and referee Edgar Brown pointed to the spot. Scott Boden stepped up and sent Preston the wrong way for a 47th minute lead.
Durose and Michael Williams both had half chances fail to trouble the United keeper but the hosts then began to find another gear as they attempted to get back in the game and would dominate the closing stages.
Sub Jordan Hallam’s shot was well diverted wide by Wright, but from the resulting 76th minute corner, Richards forced Wright to save again but this time he could only parry out to experienced Frenchman Nirennold who was able to net from close range.
Basford were now rallying, Rev James’ shot looping up and bouncing on the top of the crossbar twice before Wright was able to gather the ball.
Kieran Fenton tried to catch Wright out with a 45-yard free-kick but the back-pedalling keeper was relieved to see the ball clear the crossbar.
Wood produced a brilliant block to deny Hallam from 12 yards out and as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time, it looked like the spoils would be shared.
But in the last of those minutes, the winner arrived. Richards was gifted the ball on the edge of the box by Williams’ error and dinked a ball to the back post where Matt Thornhill arrived to head towards goal from a couple of yards out, Wright just unable to keep the effort out as both he and the ball ended up in the net and all three points went to the hosts.
Basford: Preston, Waldron, Wilder, Mancinelli (Barnes 82), Nirennold, Fenton, Richards, Thomas (Hallam 58), Campbell (Ryder 58), Thornill, James
Not used: Frizelle, Fankwe.
Matlock: Wright, McDonald, West, Williams, H Wood, Evans, Durose, Dimaio (Armond 80), Boden, Clark, Kuleya (Duhameau 82)
Not used: Crofts, C Wood, Humphries
Ref: Edgar Brown
Att: 457
Star Gladiator: Harry Wood
Report by Mark Duffy