By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Matlock Town rounded off their regular NPL East season in style this afternoon (25/04/26) as they beat Grimsby Borough at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
Interim manager Ryan Cresswell spoke in an interview yesterday that he was treating today’s game as an extra training opportunity ahead of Tuesday (no disrespect to Grimsby intended) and that certainly showed with his team selection. There were 8 changes to the starting 11 from the victory at Newton Aycliffe as the vast majority of the regular starters were restored to the team.
Matlock took 10 minutes or so to really get going, but once they did, boy did they hit their stride! The first goal coming after 12 minutes as Washington got himself to the by-line and pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot. The pass found Wilson and the club’s top scorer had far too much time and space to control and find a finish for his 29th goal of the season in all competitions.
A minute later it was almost two as Bachirou broke forward down the right hand side and found Washington in the box, the striker was unfortunately unable to wrap his foot around the ball and get a shot away.
However, this would not be the striker’s only opportunity, as he would add his name to the scoresheet after 17 minutes. He again got himself to the byline (this time on the opposite side of the pitch) but opted to shoot on this occasion and finished into the bottom corner.
The Gladiators continued to turn on the style for the rest of the half, with both Washington and Upton having a go, but both shots were straight at the keeper and were easy saves for Grimsby’s no. 1. Upton’s effort was probably the pick of the bunch as he had a go on the full volley following a chipped pass from Washington. It wasn’t to be on this occasion.
On the stroke of half time, Matlock added a third. Wilson broke through the Grimsby defence and played a delightful backheel to Upton. The midfielder having a relatively simple job to finish beyond the keeper to cries of “It’s like watching Brazil” from the Gladiators fans behind the goal!
Half-Time – Matlock Town 3-0 Grimsby Borough
The management team made 5 changes at half time, obviously resting key players ahead of Tuesday night but the players seemed to continue exactly from where they left off at the break!
9 minutes after the restart, it was 4. Macdonald found himself in space on the edge of the box and his low volley nestled itself into the bottom corner. A delightful finish from the left-back who had moved into midfield following the substitutions.
Barely 2 minutes later, the scoring was complete. Eratt-Thompson down the right hand side and found Andrade on the edge of the box. Bruno finishing with aplomb right into the top corner to round out the goals in spectacular style!
With the game won, Matlock naturally took their foot off the gas from this point forward. Although Macdonald, Viggars and Mbayo would all go close during the remainder of the second half. The latter in particular was agonisingly close as his header looked like it crossed the line. Somehow a combination of the Grimsby keeper, the post and a defender clearing it off the line, preventing a goal for the Gladiators’ centre back.
Grimsby did grow into the game a little in the last 20 minutes, as Matlock eased the pressure off in the latter stages. But the vast majority of their chances were shots from the edge of the box which flew wide. In fact, I’m not actually sure they had a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes! The closest they came was when the Grimsby striker tried to lift the ball over Lambton as he misjudged a cross, the keeper reacted well though to palm the ball away and the defence cleared.
Full-Time – Matlock Town 5-0 Grimsby Borough
A very successful day at the office for Cresswell and Ravenhill’s men as they prepared for the playoffs in style! Controlling the game in the manner that they did, and some of the chances they created will give the Gladiators fans a lot of confidence going into Tuesday evening.
Following today’s results, it has been confirmed that Matlock will host Bradford Park Avenue in the play-off semi-final with a 7:45pm kick off. Tickets are still available from the club website and can also be purchased on the gate on Tuesday evening.
Matlock XI – 1. Lambton, 2. Eratt-Thompson, 3. Macdonald, 4. Wiley, 5. Granite (C), 6. Oglesby (Mbayo 46’), 7. Upton, 8. Bachirou (Milambo 46’), 9. Washington (Viggars 46’), 10. Elliott (Thomspon 46’), 11. Wilson (Andrade 46’)
Grimsby XI – 1. Johnson, 2. Couch, 3. Wood, 4. Topliss (C), 5. Sawyer, 6. Walker (Taylor 19’ then Boyd 62’), 7. Wireko (Robinson-Barlow 62’), 8. Venney, 9. Essel (Rennardson 66’), 10. Flett, 11. Wright
