By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Veteran striker Connor Washington scored his third in 2 games as his strike from the spot earned Matlock Town a point away at Garforth Town today (31/10/2026).
Before a ball was kicked, the occasion began with an incredible mark of remembrance from both teams. An impeccably observed period of silence from all in attendance.
Anyway, onto the football and it was actually the visitors who broke the deadlock after just 10 minutes. New signing Sonny Hilton (signed from Marine AFC yesterday) spun a corner into the near post with the outside of his foot and the ball deflected off the shin of a Garforth defender in rather spectacular style for an own goal!
However, Matlock’s joy would only last 3 minutes as the hosts went down the other end and scored almost immediately. A long ball over the top found the head of a Garforth forward who nodded it inside to Eggleston, the forward having got in front of his man and he had a relatively simple task to finish beyond Dewhurst.
3 minutes later, the turn around was complete and again it was from a long ball over the top. The keeper launched the ball forward out of his hands towards Burgess for the hosts. Dewhurst came out to clear the ball but he was a little late and the visiting striker rounded the keeper, Robinson being unable to prevent the striker from finishing in an unguarded net.
Garforth continued to attack with quality and the Matlock defence struggled to deal with the hosts’ pace up front, Dewhurst making a couple of excellent saves to make sure the deficit stayed at 1 goal.
Abbey had a late shout for a penalty as it looked like he was tripped in the box with virtually the last kick of the half. The referee waved away any Matlock protests and instead blew for half-time.
Half-Time – Garforth Town 2-1 Matlock Town
Manager Nathan Haslam made two changes at the break as he brought on Gough and Bradbury but Garforth still flew forward with pace and creativity, even if the Gladiators seemed to have more control in the midfield during the second period.
Again, Dewhurst made a couple of saves to keep the scoreline at 2-1 but Matlock had started to create and Abbey had another chance of his own inside the first 10 minutes of the half, but his effort was straight at the keeper.
The introduction of Connor Washington just before the hour mark proved to be the catalyst for some better, brighter Matlock play. Whether it was his different playstyle, or the Garforth defence being less used to dealing with him I don’t know but the Gladiators became a lot more dynamic and free flowing going forward for the half an hour or so of the contest.
This improved play is what led to the equaliser as Bachirou found Washington with a delightful through-ball down the right-hand channel. The striker was tripped in the box and the referee pointed to the spot with little hesitation before Washington stepped up and dispatched the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Although Matlock continued to be much brighter in the latter stages of the second half, another goal sadly wasn’t forthcoming and the Gladiators had to settle for a point on the road.
Full-Time – Garforth Town 2-2 Matlock Town
On the balance, of the game, that definitely felt like a point gained as oppose to 2 points dropped as Matlock just weren’t at the races today for whatever reason. On the positive side, a point is a point and it may prove a crucial point come the end of the season. Also, Sonny Hilton looked impressive on his first 90 minutes in blue and white and he may well prove to be a quality addition to the squad as the season progresses.
The Gladiators are next in action in the Derbyshire Senior Cup on Tuesday evening (03/11/2026) as they travel the short distance to Pinxton FC with a chance to give some minutes to players still developing fitness after injury.
Garforth XI – 1. Flatters, 2. M.F. Al-Jahadhmy, 3. Emery, 4. Savage, 5. Tilsley, 6. Barkway (C), 7. Eggleston, 8. Allerton, 9. Burgess, 10. Mcgrath (Marshall 85’), 11. M. Al-Jahadhmy
Matlock XI – 1. Dewhurst, 2. Eratt-Thompson (C), 3. Robinson (Gough 46’), 4. Bachirou, 5. Walker, 6. Andoh, 7. Hilton, 8. Pettifer, 9. Abbey (Washington 57’), 10. Sault (Bradbury 46’), 11. Kachosa
