By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Matlock Town recorded back to back away victories in consecutive weekends as they beat Grimsby Borough yesterday (22/11/25) on a damp afternoon at the Bradley Football Development Centre.
The game started in a cagey fashion for both teams as they seemed to spend the opening exchanges figuring each other out. In fact, it wasn’t until the 22nd minute that anything of note actually happened! Matlock forward Ryan Viggars (leading the line today for the first time in Gladiators blue) was played through on goal but found his shot well saved by the Borough keeper.
In fact, this opening was one of only three throughout the entirety of the first half, with Jake Thompson and Cameron Wilson the only others to go close in what was a very tight first half. The away side had the majority of the possession, as we have come to expect from Adam Clayton’s side, but found the hosts difficult to break down.
HT – Grimsby Borough 0-0 Matlock Town
Unfortunately for the 20 or so travelling Matlock fans, the second half started in much the same way as the Gladiators seemed to run out of ideas pretty early on in how to break through the home side’s strong defence.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom however, as on 55 minutes, Harlain Mbayo rose highest from a corner to nod home yet another goal for him from a set piece.
Matlock continued to have much of the possession but failed to build on taking the lead, Wilson cutting inside and firing just wide of the post 7 minutes after the goal being the only other chance of note.
Naturally, if you can’t capitalise on a lead, you give the opposition more chance to grow into the game, which is exactly what Borough managed to do. If it wasn’t for some heroic defending from first Declan Eratt-Thompson then Charlie Oglesby, the hosts would have found themselves level with 20+ minutes still to play. Eratt-Thompson made a superb last ditch tackle in front of goal on 71 minutes before Oglesby threw himself in front of a shot to send it over the bar just eight minutes later.
Fortunately, the Gladiators managed to hold on to their narrow lead in increasingly difficult conditions as the pitch got more and more wet from the constant drizzle throughout the game. The hosts threw everything they could and were definitely the better side in the last 20 minutes but the Gladiators defence stood firm. Debutant Gunner Elliott (on loan from Chesterfield) had a chance to double the advantage in injury time but his shot was straight at the keeper after he’d done well to work an opening for himself.
Full-time Grimsby Borough 0-1 Matlock Town
All in all, it wasn’t a classic but a win is a win and the Gladiators can be boosted, particularly by a solid defensive performance which hasn’t always happened across this season. Debut goalkeeper Ashton Rinaldo (also on loan from Chesterfield) made a good account of himself as he commanded his area well and managed to keep a clean sheet into the bargain.
Matlock Town are back at home next week as they host Newton Aycliffe in the Northern Premier League East Division at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
Grimsby XI – 1. Auton, 2. Jones, 3. Taylor, 4. Sawyer (Lovett 57’), 5. Topliss (C) (Essel 70’), 6. Richardson (Wright 90’), 7. Venney, 8. Flett, 9. Southwell, 10. York, 11. Okewoye (Molyneaux 57’)
Matlock XI – 1. Rinaldo, 2. Eratt-Thompson, 3. Milambo, 4. Bachirou (C), 5. Mbayo, 6. Oglesby, 7. Thompson (Clayton 77’), 8. Flanagan, 9. Viggars (Washington 65’), 10. Macdonald, 11. Wilson (Elliott 89’)
