Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Mariam Besar
Matlock Town secured their place in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Mickleover at the Don Amott Arena following a performance built on sharp attacking tactics and a strong defensive performance.
Matlock dominated from the start. In the 21st minute, Montel Gibson found the net with a smart finish in the box. They doubled their lead through Diego De Girolamo, which gave Matlock some breathing room in the first half.
On the other hand, Mickleover put pressure on Matlock Town’s defence; but Gladiators goalkeeper Myles Boney was alert, forcing three impressive saves to keep the scoreline in their favour. His performance was key in maintaining their advantage.
With the beginning of the second half, Matlock tightened their grip following more of a defensive tactical discipline. The hosts pushed forward in search of a chance to win, but Matlock’s defensive line stood firm under pressure to protect their clean sheet. Matlock were slightly affected by the sending off of Liam Ravenhill, but it didn’t affect the full performance and dynamics of the team.
Adam Clayton, Matlock Town’s manager, expressed his impression of the team’s performance:
“ I think the first half we controlled, we could have scored a couple of goals, and we were very happy with what was going on at the back,” said Clayton.
Also, Clayton highlighted the tactical changes in the second half to maintain the first win of the season. “ We had to change our mentality a little bit and go sort of a little bit more defensive and rigid, and hard to be.”
The result marks an important step forward for Matlock Town, who will hope this FA Cup momentum sets them up for a confident run of results with an upcoming match versus Garforth Town in the NPL East Division.
Hear from Matlock Town manager Adam Clayton who spoke to North Derbyshire Radio’s Mariam Besar after the game
