The Gladiators successfully bounced back from a disappointing defeat on Saturday to grab 3 points on the road at Emley AFC in the NPL East Division on Tuesday Night (14/10).
Matlock started the stronger side and played more of their possession based, free flowing football that we’ve come to expect from Adam Clayton’s men and it was on the 13th minute that the pressure paid dividends. Diego de Girolamo played a lovely 1,2 on the edge of the box with Tom Elliott before firing a smart finish into the bottom corner from just inside the box to open the scoring. Just 5 minutes later, the second arrived, after a delightful cross field pass from Cameron Wilson, found Clayton at the back post who squared the ball for Elliott to tap into an empty net from 2 yards out.
Matlock continued to threaten and could easily have added another 2 goals before the half hour mark! First Diego after a cross hit him more than him shooting and then Wilson saw an effort from outside the box just wide after cutting in from the left.
Emley refused to be rolled over however, and continued to have their own spells of possession and putting a little bit of pressure on the Matlock box, but Jake Oram in goal had very little to save other than simple catches.
The first half wasn’t done there though! Diego could have had a first half hat-trick on a different day when he hit the bar following a deflection after being found by Bachirou.
Half-time – Emley AFC 0-2 Matlock Town
The second half continued in much of the same way and it only took 2 minutes for Diego to have another go at goal. A cross found him at the back post for a free header and, barring a BRILLIANT save from Lambton in the Emley goal, would have scored his second and Matlock’s third.
The third goal did come some minutes later however, after Morris-Clayton wins a free kick on the right flank, the deep cross finds Charlie Oglesby at the back post who heads home, completely unopposed.
The game continued in much the same vein, with Matlock having a lot of possession but with the hosts beginning to grow in the game as substitutes were brought on and the game opened up a little bit. Emley’s increased confidence paid dividends as they grabbed a goal for themselves on 83 minutes. Janaii Gordon was played through 1 on 1 with Oram and the striker finished well, perhaps a hint of offside in the build up though!
A thoroughly enjoyable game, only potentially spoiled by a bit of aggro from the Emley manager as Jez Milambo tried to take a throw-in quickly, not realising it had been given the other way.
A positive, morale boosting victory for the Gladiators in preparation for a tough test on Saturday as they host table topping, free scoring Redcar Athletic at the Proctor Cars Stadium in what could already be a season defining encounter!
Full time – Emley AFC 1-3 Matlock Town
Emley XI – 1. Lambton, 2. Sheppeard, 3. Baldwin, 4. Lindley, 5. Farrar, 6. Barks, 7. Stacey (Ceesay 71’), 8. Dawson (C), 9. Sorhaindo (Gordon 63’), 10. Mampala, 11. Christie-Crainie (Rodrigues 76’)
Matlock XI – 1. Oram, 2. Eratt-Thompson, 3. Milambo, 4. Bachirou (C), 5. Mbayo, 6. Ogesby, 7. Clayton (Giles 85’), 8. Sault, 9. De Girolamo, 10. Elliott (Granite 85’), 11. C. Wilson (T. Wilson 76’)
By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
