Matlock Town FC vs Worksop Town
Matlock Town FC
0The Proctor Cars Stadium
Northern Premier League
Worksop Town
0Match Report
MATLOCK TOWN 0-0 WORKSOP TOWN
As scoreless draws go this was an excellent one, chances from start to finish at regular intervals, the destination of the points remaining in doubt until the final whistle.
The Gladiators and the Tigers served up a fascinating local derby played in front of an impressive 1023 crowd with the draw being the right result. Matlock will probably be the happier of the two teams with a point, certainly Worksop would have preferred all three as they seek a play off spot.
Matlock recalled striker Scott Boden to their starting line up, in for Nat Crofts in the solitary change from the line up beaten at Buxton in the midweek Derbyshire Senior Cup semi final. Ioan Evans, the victim of a stray elbow then was passed fit, Worksop included ex Gladiators Jack Broadhead, Terry Hawkridge and Liam Hughes in their starting line up.
Worksop could have gone in front inside the opening fifteen seconds, a flowing move from their kick off eventually releasing Jay Rollins down the right who pulled his shot beyond the back post, The Tigers swarmed all over Matlock in the opening exchanges, Jordan Burrow’s header looked to be dropping just under the bar until Saul Deeney reacted to push the ball over the bar.
The start to the match promised goals, Matlock responding with a tame John Johnston shot at goalkeeper Seb Malkowski before on 7 minutes, Johnston set up a well placed Boden to fire disappointingly wide in what looked to be a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.
Worksop could have done just that in bizarre circumstances as Hughes charged down a Deeney clearance, the ball looping up to glance the bar before a grateful Deeney grabbed possession virtually on the goal line.
Hughes was at the heart of many a Worksop threat, firing a fierce shot goalwards which was only a couple of feet wide. Adam Yates was doing a sterling job with some cracking covering and challenges alongside Evans as Matlock repelled the threat. Evans, up for a corner at the other end, directed his header straight at Malkowski, the goalkeeper then keeping out a Johnston strike with his legs. Then it was Worksop’s turn to threaten, Broadhead’s well struck effort being blocked by his own player Burrow before both Deegan Atherton and Harry Wood received cautions as the half ended, Matlock could be pleased with their efforts thus far.
The hosts had a fine chance to go in front seven minutes after the resumption, Boden miskicking after a Johnston pull back, a corner still being earned as Hamza Bencherif deflected the ball behind.
Michael Williams replaced Fin Armond and proved to be a more than able deputy with some astute passing and surging breaks from midfield. Alex Duhameau then entered the fray for Olly Clark as Matlock sought to turn one point into three.
As the game wore on Matlock grew in confidence, Johnston after being found by Joe West, scooped his shot a yard too high. A Bencherif header comfortably cleared the bar before in an enthralling finale, both sides could have snatched the winner.
Matlock looked the more likely with Malkowski earning his corn , pulling off a fine stop to deny Johnston from Duhameau’s flick. A better save followed as he kept out a Boden strike from point blank range and in the Gladiators best spell of the contest, Malkowski made it a hat-trick of vital saves as his legs again came to the Tigers rescue from Duhameau.
At the other end, Deeney stayed steadfast and firm to beat away substitute Alex Starcenko’s strike, the climax at the end also seeing penalty appeals ignored when Williams appeared ton be held down in the Tigers penalty box.
Boden, Williams and Duhameau received second half yellow cards in a keenly contested but never dirty game.
As the players shook hands at the final whistle there was a feeling of respect for the opposition in both camps. Matlock could be proud of their afternoon’s work,it was a pity they could not take one of their excellent chances.
MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Saul Deeney 2 George Wilkinson 3 Joe West 4 Olly Clark (12 Alex Duhameau 65) 5 Adam Yates 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston 8 Fin Armond (14 Michael Williams 58 (15 Callum Moore 90) 9 Scott Boden 10 Harry Wood 11 Kornell McDonald Other subs: 16 Nat Crofts 17 Myles Wright
WORKSOP TOWN: 13 Seb Malkowski 2 Deegan Atherton 3 Josh Wilde 4 Sam Wedgbury (16 Alex Starcenko 58) 5 Hamza Bencherif 6 Jack Broadhead 7 Terry Hawkridge (15 Luke Hall 67)8 Vaughan Redford (14 Paul Green 62) 9 Jordan Burrow 10 Liam Hughes 11 Jay Rollins Other subs: 23 George Taft 17 Colin Daniel
REFEREE: Connor Everard (Barnsley) ATTENDANCE: 1023 BEST GLADIATOR: Adam Yates