Matlock Town FC vs FC United Of Manchester

Matlock Town FC

3

FT

The Proctor Cars Stadium

Northern Premier League

FC United Of Manchester

0

Match Report

MATLOCK TOWN 3-0 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER

Matlock finished convincing winners in their first game since the prolific Jonny Margetts left for King’s Lynn with every player stepping up to the plate as manager Martin Carruthers had demanded in the pre match build up.

Two up at half time through Joe West and skipper John Johnston, Matlock wasted little time in securing all three points when Scott Boden netted early in the second half for an easy win as they could have hoped for. FC United were frankly poor, but that should not detract from an energetic Matlock performance mixed with a blend of physicality and flair to which United simply could not respond.

Johnston was the surprise choice to partner Boden in attack and it worked a treat. With Kornell McDonald and West providing excellent ammunition from the flanks and Nathan Whitehead with Harry Wood bossing the midfield Matlock looked a good side.

Margetts of course is a massive loss but the Gladiators who remained did their level best to show there was plenty of life in their limbs and brains to move on. The response was emphatic, just what the doctor ordered.

They could and should have made a dream start with Johnston missing a sitter in the 5th minute, somehow scooping McDonald’s cross from the right over the bar when it seemed easier to find the net. Two minutes later Johnston cut in from the left to fire directly at goalkeeper Pat Boyes, the start from Matlock being undoubtedly encouraging.

Matlock largely dominated the opening exchanges, a trend which would remain constant, although from a corner on the right defender Dan Lafferty’s header drifted across the six yard box to bounce harmlessly out.

But Matlock made the breakthrough that had been long on the cards in the 17th minute, McDonald’s ball from the right finding WEST who drilled his shot beyond Boyes.

Aaron Bennett drove lazily over the bar as Unites sought a reply but West nearly netted again when he met a Johnston cross to fire into the sidenetting when well placed. But a picture book goal from JOHNSTON doubled Town’s lead on the half hour, West this time the provider as the skipper stooped to glance home West’s penetrating ball from the left. Shortly afterwards the livewire Johnston shot narrowly too high with a Whitehead effort being knocked off the line and Fin Armond forcing Boyes into a crucial block to keep Matlock’s advantage down to two.

The Gladiators were immediately on the offensive as the second half got under way, Wood placing a free header wide and Boyes managing a finger tip save to prevent a West volley from nestling in the net.

But there was no respite for the Reds, Adam Yates having a header blocked from a right wing corner, West having a volley tipped aside by Boyes before BODEN showed no mercy as he forced the ball home from inside the six yard box.

United made a trio of changes very soon afterwards and although it improved them as a side, on the day Matlock were deserved winners. The hosts comfortably dealt with anything United asked of them , Saul Deeney making his one save of the afternoon to claw away a low free kick from substitute Luke Griffiths. Matlock could have made their lead more emphatic as Fin Armond drove directly into Boyes’ midriff and from a quickly taken free kick, West found room on the left to cross low with Boden adjudged to have trundled the ball wide although it looked as if a United defender had made the final touch.

To say Margetts was not missed would be both wrong and disrespectful but the Gladiators provided Carruthers and their fans with a committed and dominant performance with some attaractive football thrown in. Everyone of a blue persuasion went home completely satisfied.

A great 1349 crowd was another plus with both sets of fans cheering their sides on, stood side by side with not a hint of bother. They were a credit to both of their clubs.

MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Saul Deeney 2 George Wilkinson 3 Joe West 4 Nathan Whitehead (16 Michael Williams 74) 5 Adam Yates 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston (12 Alex Duhameau 78) 8 Harry Wood 9 Scott Boden 10 Finlay Armond 11 Kornell McDonald (14 Callum Moore 82) Other subs: 13 Alex Akers 17 Nat Crofts

FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER : 1 Pat Boyes 2 Declan McLoughlin 3 Guy Hall 4 Michael Donohue 5 Charlie Oliver 6 Dan Lafferty 7 Lewis Gilboy 8 Charlie Munroe (12 Paul Ennis 51) 9 Jordan Buckley 10 Aaron Bennett (14 Luke Griffiths 51) 11 Trivon Bryan (18 Max Woodcock 51) Other subs: 15 Bob Jammeh 16 Jay Palinkas

REFEREE: Gareth Davis (Leicester) ATTENDANCE: 1349 BEST GLADIATOR: Joe West