By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
The Gladiators got back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon (07/02/26) after a disappointing defeat in midweek and defeated North Ferriby at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
The visitors arrived on the back of indifferent recent form, sitting in 8th position in the table, having been a play off contender earlier on in the campaign. However, injuries and suspensions have hampered the Gladiators’ squad slightly as they named an altered 11 from those that started at Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday evening. The most notable of which being the welcome inclusion of Josh Granite at the heart of the defence.
The hosts started brightly, having much of the ball and putting pressure on the visitors’ goal, Alfie Atherton having a sighter from 20 yards out in the 6th minute, his effort was straight at the keeper however.
After 13 minutes, Matlock’s pressure paid dividends as Jake Thompson cut inside from the left-hand side and shot towards the bottom corner. The visiting keeper got a strong hand to it but couldn’t prevent JT adding another goal to his recent rich scoring form.
Less than 10 minutes later, Matlock added a second. North Ferriby gave away a clumsy free kick on Matlock’s left wing and Cameron Wilson swung the ball into the box. His inch perfect free kick found the head of Dwayne Wiley who nodded home to double the hosts’ advantage.
The opening period of this game wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows however, as Ryan Viggars went down injured for the Gladiators after 17 minutes and had to be replaced by Connor Washington. Manager Adam Clayton confirmed in his post-match interview that Viggars has done his hamstring and may be out for a while.
North Ferriby had their own opportunities however, and just after the half hour mark, managed to half the deficit. There was some good work down their right wing, before the cross came in and found Mbaya in the box. He had a little too much space to bring it down, but the forward did well to keep hold of the ball and score low into the bottom corner, despite being surrounded by numerous Gladiators bodies.
Matlock would have other good opportunities to restore their 2-goal cushion throughout the remainder of the first half, most notably when Calum Macdonald picked up a loose clearance. The visiting keeper well saved his edge of the box volley, and the resulting corner unfortunately came to nothing.
Half-Time – Matlock Town 2-1 North Ferriby
The hosts came absolutely flying out of the starting blocks after the restart, finally restoring their 2-goal cushion just 2 minutes after the break. Macdonald and Atherton played some delightful passes before the latter found Washington on the edge of the box. The Matlock striker fired low and hard past the North Ferriby keeper, potentially aided by a deflection off a defender along the way.
3 minutes later the Gladiators had a fourth. In a very similar fashion to the third goal, there was some excellent work down the left-hand side from Macdonald whose low cross found Wilson on the edge of the box. The winger’s low cross creeping into the bottom corner. Wilson clearly copying the technique of his golden boot rival for Matlock Town this season!
With the Gladiators now in cruise control, the game very much went off the boil from this point. Matlock continued to create opportunities for even more goals, with the visitors having good chances for consolation goals on the counterattack. Dylan Wharton making some more important saves to help boost Matlock’s goal difference.
Man of the Match today went to Calum Macdonald, who’s solid display in the middles of the park, not to mention having a hand in at least 2 of the goals, leading to a deserved accolade for a player who has come into his own with his performances in recent games.
Full-Time Matlock Town 4-1 North Ferriby
All in all, this was an important victory in order to bounce back from defeat on Tuesday night, especially considering Matlock’s next 2 fixtures! The Gladiators travel to table-topping Redcar Athletic next weekend, before hosting 3rd place Emley on 21/02 at The Proctor Cars Stadium.
Matlock XI – 1. Wharton, 2. Eratt-Thompson, 3. Milambo, 4. Bachirou, 5. Granite (C), 6. Wiley, 7. Thompson (Sault 45’), 8. Macdonald, 9. Viggars (Washington 17’), 10. Atherton (K. Clayton 79’), 11. Wilson
North Ferriby XI – 1. Bottomley, 2. Williamson (Walters 62’), 3. J. Johnson, 4. Walker, 5. Tilsley (C), 6. Roma, 7. Clements (M. Johnson 56’), 8. Thacker, 9. Dennison (Aynsley 56’), 10. Mbaya (Dunkerley 65’), 11. Hatton (McDonald 62’)
