Skegness Town vs Matlock Town FC

Skegness Town

2

FT

Vertigo Stadium

Pre Season Friendly

Matlock Town FC

5

Match Report

SKEGNESS TOWN 2-5 MATLOCK TOWN

Matlock’s striking partnership of Reece Styche and Jon Margetts both hit braces as the Gladiators won convincingly after a minor hiccup in the early part of the second half.

On a horribly wet day and on a soft surface, the Gladiators played some excellent passing football against their United Counties League Premier North hosts managed by former Matlock assistant manager Chris Rawlinson.

The visitors led by three goals at the interval but Skegness threatened a recovery with two quick goals before Matlock stepped on the accelerator once again to add two more.

It took 16 minutes for Matlock to break the deadlock, the danger coming from Joe West on the left, his run and cross being expertly and clinically finished by a measured finish from MARGETTS.

Soon afterwards Matlock had the ball in the net again but Styche was clearly offside. West was wide from a free kick and John Johnston’s effort suffered the same fate after neat interplay with West. But the lead was doubled on 34 minutes as Matlock again made hay on the left, Johnston providing an awkward cross which a Skegness defender diverted into his own net. Matlock had moved the ball from one end to the other with the minimum of fuss in a classic counter attack. Three minutes later Matlock netted again, Skegness struggling to clear their lines as Matlock hunted them down and STYCHE sored with a low shot under the home goalkeeper.

Skegness had their best spell of the game in the early part of the second half, their right winger shooting wide as the offside flag was raised but they reduced their deficit on 56 minutes when West tripped a home forward and the penalty was stroked home past Matlock’s trialist goalkeeper. Harry Wakefield had curled a good effort narrowly too high.

The underdogs had real hope of pulling the cat out of the fire when on the hour they scored again, the trialist Matlock goalkeeper parrying a free kick and an eager home forward was there to tuck away the rebound.

But Matlock rediscovered their earlier rhythm with Archie White prominent. A decent pass from White released Wakefield whose cross was met by a thumping effort from Margetts, the hosts goalkeeper saving well and in the next minute a searching cross from White was narrowly off Margetts’ radar.

But White and MARGETTS would not be denied as the former slipped an inch perfect through pass which was put away with a low shot into the corner with twenty minutes remaining.

White himself then tried to get on the scoresheet, curling a fine shot narrowly wide from distance.

But Matlock left the best goal to last, STYCHE blasting in an exocet of a finish from thirty yards on 86 minutes.

So with the hard work done it was time for the Gladiators players, staff and followers to enjoy a night out in Skegness with the rain still pouring down.

MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Saul Deeney 2 Robbie McNicholas 3 Joe West 4 Sam Hooper 5 Jamie Sharman 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston 8 Andrew Wright 9 Reece Styche 10 Jon Margetts 11 Ollie Clark. Subs used; 12 Harry Wakefield 14 Archie White 15 Trialist A 16 Trialist B 17 Trialist GK

ATTENDANCE: 150