Prescot Cables vs Matlock Town FC

Prescot Cables

0

FT

Valerie Park

Northern Premier League

Matlock Town FC

0

Match Report

The Gladiators battled for an hour with ten men at Prescot Cables on Saturday to ultimately come away with a point from a goalless draw.

It was far from a classic, with the home side having the best chances but finding debutant goalkeeper Rogan Ravenhill in good form, Matlock's best hopes being on the break but with only half chances being formed.

But a point on the road and a clean sheet to boot is something to build on and in front of a partizan crowd of 889 on Merseyside it was result the Gladiators would certainly have taken after Sam Essien's controversial first-half dismissal.

Ravenhill was equal to an early hooked volley from John Murphy as the hosts began with more intent, the referee then taking centre stage as Kieran Chell first booked Harry Wood for simulation as he broke into the penalty area and went down under a Cables challenge, before then choosing a card of a different colour in the 36th minute.

Essien went in late on Ben Elliott near the half way line and the challenge was certainly worthy of a booking, but after consultation with his assistant, Chell decided to send Essien off and Matlock were reduced to ten men - George Milner soon introduced to replace Liam Hardy and maintain Matlock's three-man midfield, albeit at the expense of a striker.

Despite their numerical advantage, Prescot would ultimately be unable to break Matlock down whilst at the same time the Gladiators were only able to muster occasional breaks forward and the odd corner which came to nothing.

Scott Wara's long range strike was just wide on 57 minutes, sub James Morris then latching on to a long ball from Wood for Matlock but shooting straight at keeper Andre Da Silva Mendes from the edge of the penalty area with what would be Matlock's only shot on target, although Connor O'Grady flicked a Wood corner wide of the post a few minutes later.

Wara tried again from distance but Ravenhill was behind it, then with four minutes to go the loanee goalkeeper produced his moment of the game with a double save to deny subs Tom Owens and Lewis Gilboy from close range.

From the resulting corner, Jay Glover then had to head off the line to maintain parity, that being the closest Cables would come to taking the points despite bombarding Matlock late on.

Prescot: Mendes, Wara, Devine, Smith (Cushion 61), Digbeu, Heath (Gilboy 57), Carberry, Foley © (Newell 76), Murphy, Elliott, Doyle (Owens 81).
Not used:

Matlock: Ravenhill, Ashman, West, Oglesby, O'Grady, Brisley ©, Glover, Wood, Hardy (Milner 38), Essien, Poulter (Morris 62, Ndlovu 89).
Not used: Booth, Townsend.

Att: 889

Ref: Kieran Chell

Star Gladiator: Rogan Ravenhill

By Mark Duffy