Gainsborough Trinity vs Matlock Town FC

Gainsborough Trinity

1

FT

The Northolme

Northern Premier League

Matlock Town FC

2

Match Report

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 1-2 MATLOCK TOWN

Matlock recovered from the shock of going a goal down after missing an early penalty to score twice and keep themselves firmly in the NPL Premier Division title race.
Liam Hughes equalised and Ross Hannah added a second after talented Lincoln City loanee Jovon Makama had put the hosts in front.

Ryan Qualter was back in the side after suspension but it was more or less a straight swap with Jamie Sharman beginning a two match ban for his two yellow cards against FC United of Manchester. Reece Kendall was also banned so Marcus Marshall came into the starting eleven which again included Adam Yates.

Trinity have an impressive home record despite their seventeenth in the table position before kick off, having lost just once on home soil, to Scarborough Athletic all season. So it was going to be a tough test of the Gladiators credentials with the visitors having seven ex Trinity players in their starting line up.

Matlock made a bright start which ought to have been rewarded with a 5th minute goal.

The bustling Hannah broke clear in the box only to be pushed in the back by Stefan Galinski. Referee Ben Tomlinson immediately pointed to the spot but Trinity goalkeeper Matt Yates dived to his right to pull off an outstanding save from Alex Byrne's penalty.

Matlock continued to dictate with Hannah having a shot charged down and Alex Wiles seeing a well struck drive turned away by Yates.

Makama conjured Trinity's first chance in the 22nd minute easing past Marshall to have his sixteen-yard shot deflected wide.

But it was soon Matlock pressing again with Hughes chesting the ball down for Mark Lees whose shot cleared the bar by some considerable distance.

Hannah tried his luck with an audacious 45 yard lob comfortably fielded by Yates before the goalkeeper did well to keep out a Hughes header after Byrne had crossed from the right.

Shortly before the break it was Joe Young's turn to impress, the Wolves loanee pushing away a Makama shot. At the other end Yates denied Callum Chippendale to leave a blank interval scoresheet and
Matlock somewhat disappointed not to be in front.

The Gladiators went close again four minutes into the new half with a Hughes header being cleared offthe line with Yates beaten.

But within another four minutes Trinity had taken the lead with MAKAMA's superb twenty yard free kick totally defeating Young, a quality goal from a quality player!

Town responded with a blocked Wiles strike while on the counter, the Holy Blues threatened with Joe Parkin firing directly atYoung.

The visitors went desperately close on the hour as a Byrne cross was nodded down by Hughes to Hannah whose shot was bravely and brilliantly knocked off the line.

Terry Hawkridge, yet another former Holy Blue replaced the injured Marshall with Trinity bringing on former Matlock striker Brad Grayson.

Young prevented Matlock from falling further behind with a crucial one on one save from Grayson,it was certainly vital with the Gladiators making the most of it.

On 65 minutes, HUGHES was on hand to produce a close range finish from Hannah's clever header and within another six minutes the turnaround was complete with HANNAH notching the goal his performance so richly deserved, again knocking in from close range after Byrne had headed across the goal.

The confidence in the Gladiators camp hod now increased as they looked more like their usual selves after a sparse return results wise in recent weeks. Hughes went close with another header and soon afterwards Hawkridge's shot had left Yates helpless only for Galinski to make a last ditch clearance off the line.

A Wiles shot was narrowly wide as Matlock looked to extend their advantage.

The Holy Blues finished strongly though with Young again prominent, producing the goods to deny substitute Tom Cursons and with virtually the last kick of the contest, he again did well to deny Grayson.
Gainsborough had put in their expected spirited showing given their impressive home form but on the day the better side won, Matlock thoroughly worthy of clinching their first win in six games.

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY: 1 Matt Yates 2 George Hornshaw 3 Prosper Keto 4 Neal Bishop 5 Stefan Galinski 6 Callum Minkley 7 Joe Parkin (15 Alex Woolerton 78) 8 Elicha Ahul 9 Jovon Makama 10 Toby Gould ( Brad Grayson 62 11 Ciaron Keane ( 17 Tom Cursons 83)

MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Joe Young 2 Adam Yates 3 Callum Chippendale ( 16 Liam King 86) 4 Ioan Evans 5 Ryan Qualter 6 Mark Lees 7 Alex Byrne 8 Alex Wiles 9 Liam Hughes 10 Ross Hannah (14 Reece Webb-Foster 76) 11 Marcus Marshall (12 Terry Hawkridge 62 ),Other subs: 15 Luke Daly 17 Finlay Phillips.

Referee: Ben Tomlinson (Doncaster). Attendance 589 Best Gladiator: Ross Hannah.