Bishop Auckland vs Matlock Town
Bishop Auckland
2Heritage Park
Northern Premier League - East Division
Matlock Town
4Match Report
Matlock Town got back to winning ways with a 4-2 success at Bishop Auckland on Saturday.
They did things the hard way, twice seeing leads wiped out before finally pulling clear in the second-half, but the win kept them in touch with leaders Redcar although the Teeside club now have a game in hand given their match on Saturday was postponed.
It was also another success on the road after a long trek to the north-east, with all but one of their fixtures in that part of the world having produced wins so far.
The Gladiators were dealt a blow on the morning of the game when on-loan goalkeeper Jake Oram was recalled by parent club Doncaster Rovers due to them lacking cover, and with Matlock having released Myles Boney during the week they were forced to secure dispensation from the FA for an emergency loan and Flixton keeper Ellis Allen was quickly recruited to head north.
After a bright start it was Matlock who went in front just eight minutes in, as the ball was fed into Cameron Wilson who ran on and fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
But four minutes later the home side were level, as a ball to the back post wasn’t cleared by Matlock and it was eventually put in the net from close range by Dean Thexton.
Chances were few until Matlock then went back in front although it was in controversial circumstances on 28 minutes. The home side felt aggrieved when the referee inadvertently tripped one of their players as he went to try and take possession, the ball eventually finding Fouad Bachirou who arrowed another powerful strike into the roof of the net from 25 yards out for his first senior goal since playing for Ostersunds in Sweden in 2017.
That was enough to keep the Gladiators ahead at the break but early in the second-half the hosts levelled things up again, this time when a throw-in from the right was met by the head of Aaron Brown whose effort found the corner of the net.
But another superb goal put Matlock back in front on 65 minutes. Ben Sault is known for his lung-busting runs and this one started from inside his own half, as he progressed past three or four challenges before rifling the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-2.
The hosts’ task was made a little harder soon afterwards when Robbie Spence was shown a straight red card for a lunging and late tackle on Matlock debutant Finn Flanagan, signed on loan from Mansfield Town during the week.
The Gladiators then rounded things off in style on 84 minutes as sub Ryan Viggars sent Conor Washington heading towards goal and after out-muscling a defender, he produced a delightful chip to score the fourth and complete a fine afternoon’s work.
Matlock: Allen, Eratt-Thompson, MacDonald, Bachirou, Granite, Oglesby, Thompson (K Clayton 72), Flanagan, Washington, Sault, Wilson.
Not used: De Girolamo, A Clayton.
Att: 391