By Chris Wood for North Derbyshire Radio
Matlock Town unfortunately couldn’t make it 2 away wins in a row on Tuesday evening (18/08/26) as they lost to a very well organised Ossett United side.
The game started quite quickly for the visitors as Jed Abbey broke through after just two minutes. The forward was unable to make it 4 goals in as many games as he skied the effort well over the bar.
After this early chance, the hosts grew into the game, trying to go forward and break down the Gladiators’ defence. Some good defending by Andoh preventing a goalscoring chance inside the first 10 minutes.
The hosts’ best chance came also inside the first 10 minutes. There was a bit of pinball inside the box following a corner and it wasn’t completely clear what happened from the other end of the pitch. It seemed like Dewhurst in goal made a quick fire double save and it was eventually scrambled away for a throw in.
The most concerning moment of the first half came on 18 minutes. Matlock’s injury troubles continue as captain Jo Cummings landed awkwardly on his ankle and had to be stretchered off. All signs point to a ruptured achilles tendon and if that’s the case, it probably ends the captain’s season before it’s even begun. We send our best wishes to him and we hope for a speedy recovery.
Matlock continued to try and turn the screw for a lot of the first half. Usually, only fine margins preventing the Gladiators from going ahead. Jed Abbey pulled a beautiful low cross across the 6 yard box but there was no one there to tap home. Number 9 Washington also had a couple of chances, but he found it hard to work a clear goal scoring angle and both his shots were simple saves for the Ossett keeper.
The hosts weren’t without their own moments of pressure though, they broke forward on a couple of occasions, and tried to move the ball across Matlock’s box. The reorganised defence seeming to stand firm and the only other memorable shot they had flew high and wide of the goal.
Half-Time – Ossett United 0-0 Matlock Town
The second half continued in much the same way that the first ended. Matlock having a lot of the ball and putting pressure on the Ossett defence, but again fine margins prevented a real goalscoring chance.
On 57 minutes, Abbey held the ball up really well before the cross came in, Bradbury being on a couple of feet away from nodding in at the back post. 12 minutes later, there was another good cross to the back post, this time from debutant Mampala, but this time, Abbey was well defended and he couldn’t direct his header goalwards. The follow up landed at Elliott’s feet but it felt like he wasn’t expecting it and he scuffed the shot.
9 minutes before the final whistle, the hosts took the lead. It was a really frustrating goal for the Gladiators to concede as it was essentially a long clearance that was pumped forward. The long ball avoided everyone and Eratt-Thompson was uncharacteristically outmuscled by his man. This left Jaanai Gordon, the Ossett number 12, with just the keeper to beat and he lobbed Dewhurst really well as he came out to narrow the angle.
Matlock continued to try and force an opening to get something out of the game. Elliott had a go from a free kick that went out of the top of the bar. Substitute Hughes also had a go but again it was a simple save from the Ossett keeper.
Full-Time – Ossett United 1-0 Matlock Town
All in all then, a disappointing defeat for the Gladiators who can take a bit of confidence in the knowledge that they were the better team for 95% of the game. A little more quality in the final third and they’d have scored 2 or 3 goals and brought the 3 points home. The worry will be the injury to Cummings and how the defence sets up going forward, with 3 of Matlock’s first choice centre backs now out for 6-8 weeks.
New signing Zak Goodson will hopefully have an impact going forward and will be able to open teams up a little bit more if they defend in the fashion that Ossett did. He couldn’t feature last night due to awaiting league clearance for his signing, but he should be available on Saturday.
Matlock are next in action on Saturday (22/08) as they make the relatively short journey to Stafford Rangers in the FA Cup.
Ossett XI – 1. Petrovic, 2. Thompson, 3. Annor, 4. Askew (C) (Proctor 75’), 5. Burns, 6. Qualter, 7. Chentouf (Vaughan 86’) 8. Tweed, 9. Crook (Gordon 64’), 10. Murphy (Johnson 85’), 11. Crosby (Newman-Morton 73’)
Matlock XI – 1. Dewhurst, 2. Andoh, 3. Milambo, 4. Waldram (Hughes 81’), 5. Cummings (Mampala 20’), 6. Asante-Boakye, 7. Eratt-Thompson (Jeffers 90+2’), 8. Bradbury, 9.Washington, 10. Elliott, 11. Abbey
