Matlock Town FC vs Morpeth Town

Matlock Town FC

1

FT

The Proctor Cars Stadium

Northern Premier League

Morpeth Town

1

Match Report

MATLOCK TOWN 1-1 MORPETH TOWN

Matlock looked all set to record a first ever victory over Morpeth when Saul Deeney had one of those moments every goalkeeper dreads as his error gifted Morpeth a point that in truth they didn’t look like getting.

Jonny Margetts 30th goal of the season in all competitions had given the hosts the lead five minutes after the break and the Gladiators looked comfort until that awful 76th minute moment which saw Andrew Johnson haul the Highwaymen level. It was without a smash and grab from Morpeth in a game of few clear cut opportunities,

Ioan Evans was back in the Matlock defence after suspension, Jamie Sharman beginning a two game suspension after his red card at Bamber Bridge. Harry Wood and Nathan Whitehead were restored to the midfield, Michael Williams, Karl Demidh and Anthony Dwyer having to be satisfied with slots on the substitutes bench. Adam Yates was ruled out through injury.

Whitehead received a 6th minute booking for wiping out Will Jenkins before having a strike blocked from twenty five yards. A neatly worked corner ended with Joe West firing too high before John Johnston, who linked sweetly with home debutant Kornell McDonald, cut in from the right to fire a left footer at Dan Lowson who was subject to much ribbing from the Matlock Kop in the Town End stand.

But Matlock could not build on their promising opening as Morpeth found a foothold without looking particularly threatening. That changed a littler on 37 minutes when Sam Hodgson cut in from the left and Ioan Evans made an excellently timed block at the expense of a corner. Then it was Hodgson again out on the left, swinging a cross to the far post which Deeney anticipated superbly to block Jenkins’ attempted header.

The half ended with Johnston threading a fine pass towards Margetts, Lowson doing well to block before Morpeth cleared their lines.

Then after the interval came sixty seconds of action which could have seen Matlock behind but in fact go in front.

Liam Noble sent Johnson clear of the Matlock defence to face Deeney in a one on one, Deeney doing brilliantly to grab the ball off Johnson’s toes as the striker tried to dance around him. Matlock quickly sped to the other end, Wood releasing Johnston on the right whose low centre was exquisitely flicked home by the prolific MARGETTS.

Manager Martin Carruthers and the Town faithful in a good 728 crowd were obviously hoping that Matlock could build on their slender lead, but that did not happen.

McDonald made a couple of great interceptions before a Wood volley was gathered by Lowson. But out of the blue the Northumberland outfit were back on level terms as JOHNSON cut in from the left, his harmless looking shot taking a deflection on the way through to fool Deeney who could only watch in agony as the ball squirmed under him and almost apologetically trickled over the line.

Margetts saw a shot blocked with Whitehead lifting the loose ball high on to the cricket field and there was hope again when Margetts power packed shot was turned aside by Lowson as the Gladiators looked to regain their lead.

Noble was booked for grabbing hold of Johnston as the game reached stoppage time. At the death Matlock had spot kick claims rejected when Josh Robson appeared to trip Johnston, referee David Hinton waving away the appeals and when Morpeth won a free kick on the counter, Deeney did well to push Johnson’s volley on to the outside of the post.

So the game ended with the spoils shared as in Morpeth’s first three visits to the Proctor Cars Stadium and for the sixth time in seven meetings between the clubs.

MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Saul Deeney 2 Kornell McDonald 3 Joe West 4 Nathan whitehead 5 George Wilkinson 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston 8 Harry Wood 9 Finlay Armond (12 Karl Demidh 65) 10 Jonny Margetts 11 Alex Duhameau (14 Anthony Dwyer 80) Other subs: 15 Olly Clark 16 Connor Dimiao 18 Michael Williams

MORPETH TOWN: 1 Dan Lowson 2 Josh Robson 3 Chris Reid 4 Will Jenkins 5 Ryan Wombwell 6 Michael Turner 7 Ryan Donaldson 14 Vinnie Steels 68) 8 Liam Noble 9 Sam Hodgson (16 Nic Bollardo 68)10 Daniel Barlow 11 Andrew Johnson Other subs: 12 Jack Foalle 15 Jeff Henderson 17 Ben Sayer

REFEREE: David Hinton (Sutton Coldfield) ATTENDANCE: 728 BEST GLADIATOR: Kornell McDonald