Lancaster City vs Matlock Town FC

Lancaster City

1

FT

Giant Axe

Northern Premier League

Matlock Town FC

0

Match Report

LANCASTER CITY 1-0 MATLOCK TOWN

A last gasp strike from Christian Sloan broke Matlock hearts but also punished the Gladiators from not capitalising on having the lion’s share of the play in Saturday’s mid table clash at the Giant Axe.

The quality of the goal could not be disputed though as he strode forward to unleash a terrific low thunderbolt from twenty five yards the comprehensively beat Saul Deeney who dived to his left but in total vain as the ball found the bottom corner.

It came as the match was about to enter stoppage time and for the second successive season a late City goal beat Matlock at the Giant Axe.

With Nathan Whitehead not fully fit, manager Martin Carruthers started Michael Williams in midfield with Scott Boden replacing Alex Duhameau in attack in the only changes from the side which had beaten Mickleover ion the Derbyshire Senior Cup in midweek.

Matlock started brightly and in the opening minute Williams placed a shot narrowly wide after neat build up play from the Gladiators.

The Dolly Blues response was a Dominic Lawson header which dropped on top of the net with Matlock then comfortably dealing with a couple of corners.

Home goalkeeper Andre Mendes was quickly off his line to prevent John Johnston from finding a shot after a Harry Wood flick on, then at the other end Ioan Evans made a crucial clearance from a teasing centre into the Matlock box.

But Johnston had a great chance to break the deadlock on 26 minutes finding space down the left to bear down on Mendes but the Town skipper pushed his shot wide.

Matlock always looked the more accomplished of the two sides with the chances drying up towards the interval, sound handling from Deeney repelling any Lancaster hopes while Niall Cowperthwaite at the back for the Dolly Blues always seemed on hand to do likewise.

Lawson could only fire at Deeney in a rare chance shortly before the break, but Matlock looked set for at least a share of the spoils based on their opening half efforts.

Backed enthusiastically by another good following there was a half chance for the Gladiators six minutes into the second period, Johnston having to manufacture a header which lacked pace but still beat Mendes as it rebounded off the bar.

Joe West with goals in his last three home matches tried his luck six minutes later but his effort cleared the bar by a good distance with Matlock looking comfortable but there was a scary moment in the 63rd minute when Deeney knocked away a troublesome corner, and Cowperthwaite headed goalwards , West rescuing the Gladiators with a goal line clearance.

But that was a rare concerning incident as Matlock swept upfield once more, George Wilkinson’s ball finding Boden whose cross was slightly off Johnston’s radar. Mendes then got in the way of a shot from Wood, Matlock also threatening when Adam Yates trundled a back post effort into the sidenetting from a narrow angle and substitute Nat Crofts showing trickery but his shot lacked the necessary power to beat Mendes.

Matlock were good value for at least a point but SLOAN had the final say and with five minutes of added time to play, the hosts’ game management was perfect as the visitors could not fashion another opportunity to save themselves.

LANCASTER CITY: 1 Andre Mendes 2 Sam Bailey (12 Jake Connelly 73) 3 Matthew Clarke (16 Ed Ikpaku 65)4 Niall Cowperthwaite 5 Charlie Barnes 6 Kyle Brownhill 7 Nic Evangelinos 8 Christian Sloan 9 Dominic Lawson 10 David Norris (17 Paul Jarvis 65) 11 Charlie Bailey Other subs: 14 Tom Kilifin 15 Robbie Deighan

MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Saul Deeney 2 George Wilkinson 3 Joe West 4 Michael Williams (12 Alex Duhameau 73) 5 Adam Yates 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston (14 Nat Crofts 75) 8 Harry Wood 9 Scott Boden 10 Finlay Armond (16 Nathan Whitehead 57) 11 Kornell McDonald Other subs: 15 Callum Moore 17 Myles Wright

REFEREE: Ryan Aldred (Bolton) ATTENDANCE: 383 BEST GLADIATOR: Harry Wood