Radcliffe FC vs Matlock Town FC

Radcliffe FC

4

FT

Stainton Park

Northern Premier League

Matlock Town FC

0

Match Report

Radcliffe. 4. 0. Matlock Town

Matlock are still not completely safe from the drop as Radcliffe reversed the scoreline from the initial meeting on November 4.

Radcliffe homed in on the title with Jude Iboyu firing them in front on 32 minutes before substitute Luca Nivarro came on to do a one man demolution of the Gladiators with a hat trick inside twelve second half minutes.

After holding their own and a bit more in the opening exchanges, Matlock capitulated and were blown away with an ease that was disturbing for visiting fans.

It has happened far too often this season and whoever is in the managers chair next term has a hard time of it. It was a case of a completely ok first half barring the goal before Matlock fell apart against the champions elect

The visitors went for a 3 5 2 formation with Myles Wright continuing between the sticks.Curtis Durose won the vote over Tavunga Kuleya who would appear from the bench towards the end.

There was a first minute booking for the hosts Ewan Bange for a late challenge on Adam Yates who found himself on the wars again shortly afterwards. Nathan Whitehead found his way into referee Jamie Rhodes notebook in the 4th minute and was then followed by Andrew Wright in the 20th minute as it seemed there would be a flood of cards

Thankfully that was it until late on when Radcliffe substitute Isaac Modi saw yellow as the game settled down.

In between the latter two cautions, former Gladiator Jude Oyibo shot wide for the hosts after everyone missed Jake Thompson's cross from the right.

Matlock very nearly snatched an 8th minute lead when trickery from skipper John.Johnston on the edge of the home penalty box saw him turn and float a magnificent shot towards the top corner which would have gone in only for goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt to produce a terrific finger tip save.

Then crosses from Connor Dimaio and Joe West could have produced more before Curtis Durose shot too high after a neat build up.

But that early promise evaporated as the league leaders and champions elect took a 32nd minute lead as Radcliffe attacked up the right and Thompson's cross was knocked home by the unmarked OYIBO.

Towards the end of the half Hewelt pushed over an awkward ball from Johnston and gathered a drive from Wright in a half where the Gladiators had played well but were punished for one lapse in concentration.

But it was a different story after the interval.

Bange drove directly at Myles Wright after another break on the right and Wright would then pull off an excellent stop to deny Bange again.

When Bange was taken off and replaced by Navarro in the 59th minute, it proved to be a master stroke.

Within two minutes he cut in from the left to fire a superb effort that comprehensively beat Wright to double the lead.

Hewelt kept out a Durose shot but it all went downhill for the Gladiators from then on as they collapsed alarmingly.

Their two goals deficit became four by the 76th minute.

Wright did well to keep out a Josh Hancock effort and from the corner he was equally alert to keep out Anthony Dudley's header but unfortunately for the Bonsall based custodian he was at fault for the last two Radcliffe strikes.

Navarro made hay to grab a quickfire treble with a low shot which squirmed under Wright's body to trickle over the line and then the number one failed to pick up a ball into the middle which found the bottom corner.

Thankfully Matlock's pain ended there on the pitch but news of a home win for Stafford over Whitby increased the gloomy outlook.

Matlock need to end their losing run quickly. Five straight defeats does not make happy reading and the nervousness will continue until they remedy this. Tough games await, yet they are all difficult in Matlock's current predicament.

RADCLIFFE

1Mateusz Hewelt 2 Jake Thompson 3 Scott Duxbury 4 Lois Maynard 5 Olly Thornley 6 Will Tomlinson 7 Josh Hancock (16 Isaac Modi 70) 8 Nicky Adams 9 Ewan Bange (14 Luca Navarro 59) 10 Anthony Dudley 11 Jude Oyibo (12 Jamie Morgan 79) Other subs 15 Sean Tse 17 Brad Jackson

MATLOCK TOWN

1 Myles Wright 2 Connor Dimaio 3 Joe West 4 Nathan Whitehead 5 Adam Yates 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston 8 Andrew Wright (14 Ilie Clark 69) 9 Scott Boden (12 Nat Crofts 83) 10 Liam Hardy (16 Tavonga Kuleya 59) 11 Curtis Durose. Other subs, 15 Finlay Armond 19 Saul Deeney

Referee, Jamie Rhodes (West Yorkshire) Attendance 1723. Best Gladiator, John Johnston