By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Matlock Town’s promotion hopes came crashing down on Tuesday night (28/04/26) as Bradford Park Avenue advanced to the NPL East Division play-off final on Bank Holiday Saturday.
Before the game even kicked off, the atmosphere was electric! With home fans packing out the stand at one end of the ground and encouraging their team to victory throughout the warm ups. There were a lot of nerves in the camp as well as the Gladiators have struggled against the teams around them in the league this season.
Once we were underway, the pace of the game matched the passion of the fans in the stand as Matlock began to put the pressure on from the first whistle. It was however the visitors who would create the first chance, a bit of a tame effort in the end and a simple save for Lambton.
Such a high stakes game was, naturally, not without incident and lots of big challenges went flying in in midfield throughout the opening stages. The biggest incident of the lot came after just 6 minutes when Elliott was racing through and it certainly looked like he was kicked in the head by a high foot from a Bradford defender. The referee was never going to see a challenge like that but the linesman was equally unmoved, much to the consternation of the home fans!
The Gladiators continued to try and create chances, but it was this forward play that was their undoing when they were hit on the counter after 23 minutes. The initial attack was dealt with well by Eratt-Thompson, but the visitors recycled the ball and found a gap in the Gladiators back line. A square ball found Carver in the box, and he had too much space to find a finish into the roof of the Gladiators’ net.
This setback did not deter Matlock’s front line however who continued to knock on the door and test the visiting defence. Chances came and went for Washington, Wilson, Upton and Macdonald during the first half but all found their shots sail off target. A low lying defence from Bradford limited the Gladiators to speculative efforts and they struggled to really carve the defence open.
This pressure would eventually bring dividends as Matlock drew themselves level in injury time at the end of the first half. Washington again being the talisman as he carried the ball to the byline, where he was brought down and the referee pointed to the spot. Wilson duly dispatched the penalty, sending the home end into absolute pandemonium!
Half-Time – Matlock Town 1-1 Bradford Park Avenue
After the break, the Gladiators picked up from exactly where they left off, continuing to dominate possession and having a lot of the ball around the visitors’ box. Bradford’s defence held firm and managed to deal with everything that the hosts threw at them.
The biggest chance of the half came as Elliott again got round the back of the defence, it was difficult to see from where I was stood but he somehow gave away a free kick and the chance was gone.
5 minutes before the end, the visitors took the lead once more and again it was from a counter attack. They broke down their right hand side and the ball into the box was only half cleared. It found its way out to Andreucci on the edge of the box who finished low and hard to beat Lambton and this time it was the away fans turn to go wild!
Matlock had another couple of chances in injury time but neither effort had enough legs to really test the keeper and the Gladiators’ hopes to get promoted back to step 3 at the first time of asking ultimately failed.
Full-Time – Matlock Town 1-2 Bradford Park Avenue
So, how do you go about assessing the game? Honestly it’s a little tricky as the Gladiators were probably the better side on the night. At the end of the day though, the strikers probably didn’t test the keeper enough and Bradford took their goals well to claim the victory.
Matlock Town now go into another offseason of rebuilding as they look for a permanent manager as well as potential replacements to the squad wish to take up opportunities higher up the pyramid.
This season has been a steep learning curve, and one which ultimately the Gladiators have failed to rise to. This level is a real physical battle and you need to be able to grind out results and win the individual battles if you want to be successful, something which the Gladiators probably haven’t done enough of this season.
Has the season been successful? On paper potentially yes but in reality probably not as the goal will have been to get promoted at the first time of asking. Matlock will have another opportunity in the 26/27 season, potentially in a new division of Step 4.
Finally, I want to say a personal thanks to North Derbyshire Radio for giving me the opportunity to report on the Gladiators this season, it has taught me a lot and I have enjoyed every second. Onward and upwards for 26/27!
Matlock XI – 1. Lambton, 2. Eratt-Thompson, 3. Macdonald, 4. Wiley (Mbayo 66’), 5. Granite (C) (Viggars 87’), 6. Oglesby, 7. Upton, 8. Bachirou (Sault 89’), 9. Washington, 10. Elliott (Andrade 81’), 11. Wilson
Bradford XI – 1. Hall, 2. Hendrie, 3. Brown, 4. Moke (Ashman 57’), 5. Ible, 6. Beevers (C), 7. Chorlton (Andreucci 30’), 8. Ekpolo, 9. Carver (Haw 74’), 10. Parkin, 11. Shanks
