By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Debutant Ethan Kachosa scored one and set up on another in his first appearance for Matlock Town as they beat Stocksbridge Park Steels 3-0 this afternoon (10/10/2026).
From the start, Kachosa was showing his promise as after just 2 minutes, he beat his man on the left wing and won a corner for the Gladiators. When the corner came in, it was poor but the winger was clearly up for the occasion.
It was new manager Nathan Haslam’s first game in charge and it seemed to take the players 10-15 minutes to get used to the system. They also weren’t helped by the fact young Max Asante-Boakye was recalled by parent club Sheffield United, leading to a change to a back 4 rather than a back 3.
For the first half an hour or so, Matlock seemed a little nervous, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t create chances. The first good chance saw some good defending prevent Eratt-Thompson from having a headed chance at goal. Then the second from a free-kick finding Walker unmarked at the back post who flashed his effort just wide.
The much changed hosts (I was told they signed 7 players in the last week) did have moments of positivity themselves, most notably in the 21st minute when they broke down the left. Fortunately, Dewhurst was equal to the shot and made a good save.
After half an hour, Matlock had their breakthrough and there was a slice of luck about it. Kachosa cut in from the left hand side and fired a speculative shot from the edge of the box. It looked like the keeper successfully palmed it away but the ball spun into the bottom corner to open the scoring!
9 minutes later the Gladiators doubled their lead with Kachosa this time turning provider. He drew the attention of 3 separate Stocksbridge defenders on the left-hand edge of their box and somehow found a pass through the bodies to Abbey. The Dutch striker only needed 2 touches, one to turn and the other to finish into the top corner to draw himself level as the division’s top scorer!
Again though, the hosts threatened as they went straight down the other end from their kick-off. Ryan Cook for the visitors cut inside and had a very good effort after they broke down the left-hand side. Thankfully Dewhurst saved well to maintain the 2 goal advantage.
Matlock would have a couple more chances before the break but both Jed and Andoh couldn’t capitalise and the score remained at 0-2.
Half-Time – Stocksbridge Park Steels 0-2 Matlock Town
After the restart, Matlock slowed the pace down a little. Not to say that they were bad, just that the intensity wasn’t as imperative in the second 45 minutes, what with the 2 goal cushion.
Kachosa continued to have the beating of his defender and found crosses or shots himself, although nothing really tested the keeper. On 65 minutes, Abbey found Kachosa in the box who looked odds on to score, he couldn’t keep his effort down though and it sailed over the bar.
Sault and Abbey would have attempts later on in the second half, but both drew relatively simple saves from the Stocksbridge keeper.
With virtually the last kick of the game, the Gladiators made it 3. Eratt-Thompson swung a free kick in from the left wing straight to the back post. Waiting for the cross was Aiden Walker who volleyed home his second in as many games for Matlock. What do they say about London buses? You wait ages for one and then…
Full-Time – Stocksbridge Park Steels 0-3 Matlock Town
All in all then, a reasonably comfortable victory for Nathan Haslam and his players in the manager’s first game in charge. The only concern being a potential 2 more players being added to the injury list as Bradbury was forced off at half time and Jeffers only lasted 2 minutes on his return from internation duty before he came off worse from a bad tackle. You do have to feel for Stocksbridge though who were only relegated last season, and seem to be languishing at the foot of the table with a high player turnover too.
The Gladiators now have a week off and an important 2 training sessions for the management team to impart their wisdom before a big game next Saturday. The Gladiators host former table-toppers Liversedge FC at the Proctor Cars Stadium with a 3pm kick-off. Manager Nathan Haslam will hope to continue his positive start and push Matlock Town back into the playoff places.
Stocksbridge XI – 1. Allinson, 2. Shepherd, 3. Poland, 4. Smythe (C), 5. Dyer, 6. Bumhira (Akinola 87’), 7. Marshall (Kilbourn 66‘), 8. Boyle (Ward 61‘), 9. Dyer, 10. Dunne, 11. Cook
Matlock XI – 1. Dewhurst, 2. Eratt-Thompson (C), 3. Giles, 4. Bachirou, 5. Walker, 6. Andoh, 7. Bradbury (Clayton 46’), 8. Sault, 9. Abbey, 10. Goodson (Jeffers 68’ Clayton 72’), 11. Kachosa
