By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Photo Credit – Michael South Photography
An excellent performance from Matlock Town this afternoon (12/09/26) saw them progress to the third round of the FA Trophy after beating Nuneaton Town 5-1.
Matlock were also boosted by the debuts of two players, Aiden Walker signed on Friday alongside left-back Billy Gough, both of whom had excellent games in their first outing in the blue and white.
It was actually the visitors who took the lead after a short free kick to the edge of the box found Hendrie. The visitors’ number 7 played a looping cross to the back post that missed everyone before dropping into the bottom corner.
The lead only lasted 2 minutes before Washington crossed over everybody to the far side, where Eratt-Thompson could play it inside to Goodson. The striker shot a daisy cutter that nestled itself in the bottom corner to level the scores.
On 17 minutes, Matlock took the lead. Washington again involved as he beat his man superbly before playing the ball inside to Goodson. Goodson played it further across to Abbey who thundered a strike into the top left corner.
10 more minutes of Matlock dominating the play before they made their advantage count. This time Goodson nicking the ball off the defender before driving towards the Nuneaton box. His pass to Washington saw the number 9 try to flick it past the defender, resulting in a handball. Up stepped Abbey to send the keeper the wrong way and score his second of the game.
5 minutes before the break, Washington got on the scoresheet himself. Debutant Gough did brilliantly to carry the ball the length of the pitch before playing in Washington who nestled a finish past the keeper at his near post.
Half-Time – Matlock Town 4-1 Nuneaton Town
Naturally, after the interval, the Gladiators took their feet off the gas, but they still knocked on the door on several occasions as they pushed for more goals. The goal did eventually come in the first minute of stoppage time as Jeffers found Washington on the edge of the box. The Matlock striker completing the scoring with an emphatic 20+ yard strike.
Full-Time – Matlock Town 5-1 Nuneaton Town
The only downside to what was an emphatic victory was the injuries to a few key players. At the time of writing, the nature of these injuries isn’t clear but Matlock’s injury crisis seems to show no sign of slowing down!
A much needed morale boosting performance from the Gladiators who will find out their next opponents in the competition on Monday. The tie is to be played on 26th September.
Matlock’s next game is on Tuesday evening (15/09/26) where they travel to North Ferriby before having a rare Saturday off to regroup and perhaps, get some players back to match fitness.
Matlock XI – 1. Dewhurst, 2. Eratt-Thompson (C), 3. Gough, 4. Walker, 5. Etherington (Elliott 59’), 6. Asante-Boakye, 7. Sherif (Jeffers 74’), 8. Bachirou (Bradbury 36’), 9. Washington, 10. Goodson, 11. Abbey
Nuneaton XI – 1. Osborn, 2. Green, 3. Chesterton, 4. Sweenie-Rowe, 5. Roberts, 6. Elliott (Jones 46’), 7. Hendrie (Stretton 69’), 8. Armson (C) (Currithers 46’), 9. Atem (Murphy 46’), 10. Somel, 11. Harrison (Sawyers 46’)
