Warrington Rylands vs Matlock Town FC
Warrington Rylands
1Gorsey Lane
Northern Premier League
Matlock Town FC
0Match Report
WARRINGTON RYLANDS 1-0 MATLOCK TOWN
For the second successive Saturday, Matlock conceded a late goal to succumb to a single goal defeat on their travels.
First it was at Lancaster where they dominated proceedings, but this time Rylands asked all the questions with Matlock rarely in the picture as an attacking force. Rylands deserved the three points on the balance of the play but Matlock came within four minutes of bringing home what would have been a fantastic point, Ben Hough shooting home from eight yards to give Rylands the double over Matlock having won 4-2 at the Proctor Cars Stadium back in September.
The Gladiators suffered a huge blow as their only recognised striker, Scott Boden was forced to miss out through an urgent family matter so Alex Duhameau donned the number nine shirt alongside John Johnston in attack.
They would suffer a further setback seven minutes from half time when Nathan Whitehead was forced off through injury so it was a backs to the wall exercise which for the most part, generally Matlock passed with flying colours.
Their problem was a lack of penetration up front with the ball not sticking in the final third meaning that the hosts were almost constantly on the attack.
Matlock had five players cautioned as they strove to stem the tide, both Whitehead and Michael Williams receiving the yellow card in the opening exchanges to be joined later skipper John Johnston, Harry Wood and Ioan Evans.
Whitehead had a header comfortably held by home custodian Luke Pilling but that was the prelude to
Rylands attempt to turn the screw with Matlock having to defend stoutly. To their credit the Gladiators looked well organised but they could and should have probably conceded in the 24th minute when Mo Touray’s astute pass found Joe Adams in space on the right but Adams fired wide when he should have at least forced Saul Deeney into a save.
Duhameau then broke down the left for the visitors with nobody in a yellow shirt was on hand to finish off. But the action was soon back at the other end and in a remarkable escape shots from Touray and Hough were cleared off the line, this after Deeney had pulled off a fine save from Touray. In that period an exquisitely timed challenge by Adam Yates denied Touray as the Gladiators held grimly on.
So Town were relieved to reach half time on level terms and their position might have improved three minutes after the resumption when Duhameau , well placed could not convert following a neat interchange with Harry Wood, his effort being well blocked. It was a decent chance and one Matlock needed to take given the flow of the game overall.
Adams drove wide as did Dean Furman from distance after former Gladiator Dan Cockerline had laid a short pass into the midfielder’s path.
It was nearly all one way traffic towards the Gladiators goal with Matlock having the odd foray forward, one Evans header from a corner on the right was directly at Pilling.
Deeney was then forced to pull off a cracking stop from Cockerline in a one on one, superbly blocking the unconvincing finish which then saw Cockerline run the ball out of play. Shortly afterwards when Matlock surrendered possession too easily upfield,
Deeney was called on again to save from Touray before his best save followed, getting down athletically to push away a strike from substitute Mark Duffy, it was Duffy’s first touch of note.
But the pressure eventually told as HOUGH found the corner of the net when for once the Matlock rearguard could not clear their lines. It was tough on Deeney and the back line who had been excellent throughout. The Gladiators performance in the effort and commitment categories could not be questioned but they severely lacked a cutting edge going forwards. The ball was coming straight back at a defence which undoubtedly earned its corn, backed by a great display from Deeney who defied his forty years between the sticks.
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: 1 Luke Pilling 2 Javed Swaby-Neavin 3 Liam Brockbank 4 Clive Smith 5 James Nield 6 Dean Furman 7 Joe Adams (15 Mark Duffy 75) 8 Ben Hough 9 Dan Cockerline 10 Mo Touray 11 Djavan Pedro (17 Ben Taylor 87) Other subs: 12 Sam Wilson 14 Paul Kyffin 16 James Baillie
MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Saul Deeney 2 George Wilkinson 3 Joe West 4 Michael Williams 5 Adam Yates 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston 8 Nathan Whitehead (12 Finlay Armond 38) 9 Alex Duhameau (16 Nat Crofts 79) 10 Harry Wood 11 Kornell McDonald Other subs: 14 Callum Moore 15 Charlie Wood 17 Myles Wright
REFEREE: Alex Beckett (Preston) ATTENDANCE: 438 BEST GLADIATOR: Saul Deeney