The Gladiators recorded an impressive win yesterday (18/10/25) as they beat table-topping, free-scoring Redcar Athletic at the Proctor Cars Stadium in the NPL East Division.
It could be said that the hosts started the game already on the back foot, as with Diego De Girolamo suspended and Connor Washington only fit enough for the bench, there was no recognised, out and out striker available to start the game with attacking midfielder Tommy Elliott donning the number 9 shirt and taking on that role.
The game started thick and fast, with two teams who were both clearly up for the contest inside the first 20 minutes, two Matlock players had required treatment and Redcar had been forced into an early change as the challenges flew in and the game was played at a hectic pace. Both sides had numerous chances in the early stages but it wasn’t until the 35th minute where anything was really clear cut as Oram made a good save at the near post to deny Johnson, Redcar’s no. 11 and the ensuing corner being headed over the bar. Just four minutes later the visitors had another very good opportunity, but Oram saves well, after much of the early game being contested in the middle of the park, at this point Redcar were growing into the game.
The Gladiators weren’t without their own chances however, with Milambo on two occasions getting past the full back, to find first Elliott and then T. Wilson in the box but both saw their attempts saved or over the bar respectively. After eight minutes of added time due to several injuries (including a stretcher being required for the visitors) Matlock had one final attempt as Ben Sault flashed the ball to the back post but there was no one there to tap the ball home.
Half-time – Matlock Town 0-0 Redcar Athletic
The game continued in the same frantic pace after the restart, but with the host seemingly on top as Sault saw a shot blocked and two minutes later C. Wilson had his own effort well saved by the Redcar goalkeeper. However, in the true yo-yo nature of this match, the visitors then had 2 chances of their own in quick succession, both coming from their no. 8 Owen Burns, the first one firing wide and the second being straight at Oram in the Matlock goal.
Then on 66 minutes came the breakthrough, Ben Sault was tripped in the box as he was trying to run through a crowd of defenders and C. Wilson dispatched the penalty for yet another goal in what has been a remarkable season for him so far.
This only seemed to push on the home side even more as both Sault and C. Wilson had attempts drawing relatively simple saves from Mazfari in the visitors’ goal but the next twist in the tale was to come on the 83rd minute after Johnson was sent off for Redcar after he appeared to headbutt Jez Milambo in an off the ball incident.
The last few minutes of the game were far from comfortable for Matlock as they sought a deciding second goal. Sault saw an effort cannon off the inside of the post in the second minute of injury time before then turning provider. He collected the ball following a poor clearance from the Redcar backline, squared it to Washington and a striker of his calibre was never going to miss when one on one with the keeper.
Matlock town travel to bottom four side Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night, hoping to continue to put pressure on today’s opponents at the top of the table as just one point separates the two sides following today’s result!
Full-time – Matlock Town 2-0 Redcar Athletic
Matlock XI – 1. Oram, 2. Eratt-Thompson, 3. Milambo, 4. Bachirou, 5. Mbayo, 6. Oglesby, 7. T. Wilson (Clayton 77’), 8. Ravenhill (C), 9. Elliott (Washington 77’), 10. Sault, 11. C. Wilson
Redcar XI – 1. Mazfari, 2. May (Burgess 15’), 3. Round (Fewster 83’), 4. Bartliff, 5. Guru, 6. Lay (C), 7. Burlace (Taylor 34’), 8. Burns, 9. Boyes, 10. Fletcher (Anderson 78’), 11. Johnson
By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Photo Credit: Michael South Photography
