Matlock Town FC vs Scarborough Athletic
Matlock Town FC
1The Proctor Cars Stadium
Northern Premier League
Scarborough Athletic
2Match Report
Matlock Town 1-2 Scarborough Athletic
Steve Kittrick watched his Matlock side fall to defeat against his old club in controversial circumstances at the Proctor Cars Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Gladiators had fought back from a half time deficit, Paul Walker scoring in the 19th minute, to level through Luke Hinsley on the hour. With Matlock looking the more likely winners, Sheffield referee Lee Hible showed Piteu Crouz a red card in the 80th minute which stopped the hosts’momentum. The punishment should have been a yellow card at the very worst before there was more doubt when Scarborough stole the extra two points in the 88th minute through Chris Dawson. Matlock claimed an offside during the build-up which the assistant didn’t see.
It all ended with an upset home crowd who booed the referee off at the end and a third successive defeat. After their excellent victory at Whitby ten days earlier, nobody would have forecast this losing run and it showed how quickly fortunes can alter in football.
Crouz replaced Jordan Sinnott in the sole change from the team beaten 1-0 at Lancaster on Saturday.
Matlock initially set out well but lost their way in the mid part of the first half before an encouraging late rally towards half time perked them and the crowd up, hopeful of a better second half. The Gladiators maintained their improvement in the second half and a draw would have been a fair outcome as Matlock did not do enough to claim maximum points.
Matlock’s positive start, unfortunately, failed to yield any clear cut opportunities but it was the home side breathing a little heavily in the 4th minute when Jon Stewart was off his line quickly following a blocked clearance, the referee spotting an infringement to award a Matlock free-kick. Another Scarborough attack was scramble clear as Matlock looked uncertain in midfield and defence before a surge out of defence from Bailey Gooda, an ex Scarboroughian with Luke Dean and Josh Lacey in the Town starting line up, found Marcus Marshall on the right. His cross flashed across the Seadogs penalty box.
Jack Rea’s snapshot was inches too high in the 18th minute, but Matlock were behind almost immediately when the tricky Coulson broke free on the right and WALKER had the easiest of chances to fire in the low centre from close range.
James Walshaw, booked earlier was joined in the referee’s notebook by Marshall and Luke Dean before the Gladiators were nearly opened up once more, Dwayne Wiley putting in a vital saving tackle to avert the danger.
Rea retired hurt and Spencer Harris seemed to strengthen the hosts’ midfield.
A Crouz free kick was desperately kept out by goalkeeper Tom Taylor with the loose ball being scrambled clear before Taylor was out to clutch another low delivery by Crouz. A Harris strike was deflected over the bar from a corner played short before another Crouz free kick was straight at Taylor. Peter Davison was booked to equal up the yellow card count.
A tight start to the second half followed with Stewart being surprised by Walker’s cross from the left which was forced clear, this coming after Taylor comfortably gathered a further Crouz free kick.
But Town levelled when HINSLEY rose to glance a firm header beyond Taylor from a left wing corner from Crouz.
The scene looked set for Matlock to finish the job off although Stewart needed two attempts to field a Brooksby free kick after Harris was added to the bookings list.
A carbon copy of the equaliser nearly led to Matlock going in front on 67 minutes, Hinsley this time nodding narrowly wide from a Crouz corner shortly before Brooksby was booked for fouling Marshall right on the edge of the penalty box.
Matlock were denied a potential dangerous opportunity when the referee pulled play back for a foul as Marshall broke clear and after Crouz again drove tamely at Taylor from a free kick, Crouz was given his marching orders.
A ridiculous overreaction from the Scarborough bench plus Walshaw in the referee’s ear appeared to prejudice the decision as Crouz challenged Kian Spence who had looked to be seriously injured, was soon back up on his feet once the red card had been issued.
Stewart was out smartly to deny Coulson soon afterwards in an open ending with both sides looking for a decider.
Scarborough got it when outstanding midfielder CHRIS DAWSON finished off a cross from the left, Matlock maintaining that there was an offside in the initial build-up.
Matlock fought hard for a game saver but Scarborough held out for a win which could kickstart their season. Matlock’s has gone awry in the last three games, although the controversial red card for Crouz was crucial here.
Matlock slipped to seventh in the table and badly need a win in the home Non-League Day derby with Mickleover on Saturday.
MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Jon Stewart 2 Josh Lacey 3 Ben Gordon 4 Jack Rea (14 Spencer Harris 35) 5 Bailey Gooda 6 Dwayne Wiley 7 Marcus Marshall 8 Luke Dean 9 Luke Hinsley 10 Sam Scrivens 11 Piteu Crouz Other subs: 12 Adam Yates 15 James Williamson 16 Jordan Sinnott 17 Scott Smith
SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC: 1 Tom Taylor 2 Kian Spence 3 Wayne Brooksby 4 Peter Davison 5 Dom Roma 6 Isaac Assenso 7 Ryan Watson (12 Tnique Fishley 79) 8 Chris Dawson 9 James Walshaw 10 Michael Coulson 11 Paul Walker Other subs: 14 Luke Lofts 15 George Walmsley 16 David Merris 17 Tom Morgan
REFEREE: Lee Hible (Sheffield) ATTENDANCE: 419 BEST GLADIATOR: Luke Hinsley
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