Matlock Town very efficiently blew the cobwebs away from Tuesday Night’s defeat as they beat the other Blyth side, Blyth Town in the NPL East Division on Saturday afternoon (25/10/25)
The game started in a surprisingly nervous fashion, considering the league positions of the two teams before a ball was kicked and the first 15 minutes were fairly even. Matlock had their first chance on goal on the 8th minute when Connor Washington shot towards the Blyth near post after some good build up play down the left, the shot was rather snatched at though and went wide of goal. Blyth had their own attempts in the early stages, a fantastic double save from Gladiators’ keeper Jake Oram the only thing that prevented the away side from taking the lead. Until Declan Eratt-Thompson got involved that is…
On the 16th minute, the Matlock right back picked up the ball just inside the left flank, strode forward a couple of paces and then fired an absolute rocket into the top corner from 30 yards out! Honestly, if you get a chance to watch the highlights on social media, it’s worth it for that goal alone!
This gave the hosts the boost that they needed and from then on it was all Matlock, and 5 minutes later they added a second, Ben Sault slipped Connor Washington in round the back of the Blyth back four and the latter lifted his shot over the keeper ro add another to his impressive tally for the season.
This theme continued throughout the rest of the first half as the Gladiators threw everything and the kitchen sink at the Blyth goal. Washington tried to lob the keeper but misjudged his angle, Cameron Wilson had a couple of attempts for himself, but shots were either well saved, wide or blocked by the Blyth defence who put up a reasonable fight to prevent the game from running away from them.
In fact, it took until injury time at the end of the first half for this relentless pressure to finally count. Liam Ravenhill picked the pocket of a Blyth defender and then ran through on goal. He unselfishly squared the ball to Washington who made no mistake, scoring low into the bottom right corner for his second of the game.
Just a minute later, in the very next attack, it was four as Wilson got to the byline before pulling the ball across and all Ravenhill had to do was connect with the ball to tap it into an empty net, completing a very impressive first half performance from the boys in blue.
Half-time – Matlock Town 4-0 Blyth Town
After the break, Matlock seemed to pick up exactly from where they left off, with more possession, more creativity and more attempts on goal. Just three minutes after the restart, Wilson got in on the goalscoring action as he scored from just inside the box to make it 5-0.
The so-called “Non-League Messi” was at it again as he was sent through after a very nice ball over the top from Milambo, he successfully turned his full back before shooting across goal for his second of the game.
However, this was when it all started to go slightly pear shaped from a Matlock point of view, as Ben Sault was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in as many minutes. There may be dispute over his second yellow, but he did go in pretty heavily and when you’ve just been booked, you’re giving the referee a decision to make and unfortunately for Sault, the decision was to give him a second yellow card (after some deliberation it must be said).
Naturally, as they were now a man down, the Gladiators struggled to have the same impact on the game as they had for the first hour or so and the visitors grew in confidence. On the 70th minute, their increased confidence paid dividends as a ball over the top found Millington with just one defender for company. He successfully stepped inside him and made a good finish past Oram.
Blyth continued to see more of the ball as they now found themselves with a man extra, but the Gladiators were far from out of it as the game went a little end to end for the final half an hour of the game. The visitors had chances which were well defended by Matlock, who then went up the other end and tried to carve out an opportunity of their own.
The visitors managed to grab another consolation goal in injury time. The ball was played across the box to the back post, headed back across goal and Kamara had the goal at his mercy as he reduced the arrears for Blyth Town.
All in all, a good performance and an impressive victory for Matlock Town, especially thinking about what may have happened as the teams stayed even throughout. Fair play to bottom club Blyth who never gave up and had their own impact on the game in the last half an hour. The Gladiators now need to try and put another winning run together as they visit Dunston UTS FC next Saturday after a much-needed week off.
Full-time – Matlock Town 6-2 Blyth Town
Matlock XI – 1. Oram, 2. Eratt-Thompson (Thompson 62’), 3. Milambo, 4. Bachirou, 5. Mbayo (Granite 62’), 6. Oglesby, 7. Clayton, 8. Ravenhill (C), 9. Washington (De Girolamo 62’), 10. Sault, 11. Wilson (Murray 78’)
Blyth XI – 1. Hunter, 2. Forster (C), 3. Fogarty, 4. Gascoigne, 5. Fell (Kamara 80’), 6. Sloan, 7. Fil, 8. Franklin, 9. Coleman (Millington 34’), 10. Giles (Laviolette 46’), 11. Johnson
By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Photo Credit: Michael South Photography
