Tuesday 22nd July 2014
by Ian Richardson

Amongst the Gladiators pre-season build up, they put together a promising performance at the weekend as they deservedly beat Grimsby Town, who were beaten play off semi-finalists in the Conference National last term.

Goals from trialist forward Ben Hutchinson and Leon Osborne earned Matlock their victory, with Scott Neilson scoring in between for the visitors, who included former Matlock goalscoring hero Ross Hannah in their attack.

Hannah was recovering from a jaw injury and had little chance to shine on his return to a ground where he has probably had his best years of his career.

The Gladiators also included former Doncaster midfielder Josh Meade in their midfield who, for the most part, looked composed and accomplished and these were characteristics in the general performance of the team who were certainly not overawed by opponents two levels higher in the non league pyramid.

Hutchinson showed early intent as he drove wide from thirty yards in the 3rd minute but Matlock would have been behind, had not goalkeeper Jon Kennedy superbly tipped Joe Ironside's header over the bar two minutes later. Kennedy was then swiftly out at Ironside's feet to avert any further danger.

Jason Stokes was close to a champagne moment in the 19th minute with a cracking dipping volley which brought a magnificent save from James McKeown, but that was only the prelude to Matlock going in front on 24 minutes with a tremendous goal.

Hutchinson turned on the left then hit an unstoppable twenty five yarder into the opposite top corner of the net which had McKeown clutching thin air.

1-0

Captain Liam Needham then forced a way through the Mariners defence, his shot being deflected narrowly too high.

Kennedy held a well struck drive from Paul Bignot but was beaten in the 32nd minute when Neilson cleverly took on the Matlock back four to side step Kennedy and knock home a low shot.

1-1

Craig Disley glanced a header wide when well placed and Kennedy was out quickly again to deny Ironside, before offering a few angry words of wisdom to his defenders, but Matlock could be happy with their efforts so far as the interval arrived.

HT: 1-1

The chances dried up somewhat after the interval until the 72nd minute when Stokes cleverly beat his marker on the left to cross low into the danger zone and Osborne, after originally looking to have lost the ball, found it again to net from close range.

2-1

Neither goalkeeper was troubled afterwards and as Grimsby battled in vain for a late leveller, Micky Harcourt and David Haggerty made typical interceptions to preserve an excellent Matlock win.

FT: 2-1

MATLOCK TOWN:
1 Jon Kennedy 2 Micky Harcourt 3 Phil Roe (21 Joe Leesley 63) 4 Josh Meade (16 Alex Hewitt 82) 5 Adam Yates (18 Deano Freeman 87) 6 Oscar Radford 7 Liam Needham (12 David Haggerty 63) 8 Jason Stokes (17 Oliver Brock 87) 9 Ben Hutchinson (15 Jordan Snodin 74) 10 Leon Osborne (19 Matty Andrews 82) 11 Corey Gregory (14 Lavell White 63)
Sub not used: 13 Matty Leese

GRIMSBY TOWN:
James McKeown, Paul Bignot, Caine Winfarrah, Carl Magnay, Chris Doig, Scott Brown, Craig Disley, Craig Clay, Scott Neilson, Ross Hannah, Joe Ironside
Subs: Callum Bostock, Ellis Humble, Aswad Thomas, Paddy McLoughlin, John Lennell-Lewis, Paul Walker, Aristotra Nsiala, Shaun Pearson.

REFEREE: T Bramall )Killamarsh)

ATTENDANCE: 234

FIXTURE LIST

Matlock Town's new Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division season starts on August 16th, as it did last season, with a trip to Shawe View to face Trafford.

Mark Atkins' men will be looking for a different result to last year though, when after going ahead, Matlock finished pointless as Trafford fought back for a 2-1 win.

The Gladiators' first home game is against Stamford three days later on August 19th with Blyth Spartans at the Autoworld Arena on Saturday August 23rd.

Then it's Matlock's first local derby of the season against Belper Town at Christ Church Meadow on August Bank Holiday Monday, the return against the Nailers being scheduled for New Years Day.

Belper are one of three Derbyshire sides that Matlock must face this term. Buxton provide the festive opposition at the Silverlands on Boxing Day and come to the Autoworld Arena on Easter Monday, while interestingly, the Gladiators will play Ilkeston at home on two successive Saturdays. The Robins visit in the league on Saturday September 6th before traveling north again in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round seven days later. Matlock's league trip to the New Manor Ground is on Valentine's Day.

The fixture list has a strange look about it, with three successive Saturday home league outings early on, while the Gladiators twice have a run of three away matches on the trot if cup games do not get in the way.

They must travel to Grantham, Ashton and Witton in the space of a week in October and then in eleven November days, they have trips to Whitby, Curzon Ashton and King's Lynn.

Their final game is a first ever visit to promoted Ramsbottom United on April 25th with King's Lynn due at the Autoworld Arena for the final home match on April 18th.

MATLOCK TOWN FIXTURES 2014/15:
(Home fixtures in bold)

AUGUST:
Sat 16 Trafford (A)
Tue 19 STAMFORD (H)
Sat 23 BLYTH SPARTANS (H)
Mon 25 Belper Town (A)
Sat 30 BARWELL (H)

SEPTEMBER:
Tue 2 Frickley Athletic (A)
Sat 6 ILKESTON FC (H)
Tue 9 FC United of Manchester (A)
Sat 13 ILKESTON FC (H) FAC 1Q
Tue 16 WHITBY TOWN (H)
Sat 20 Nantwich Town (A)
Sat 27 RUSHALL OLYMPIC (H) -date of FAC 2Q

OCTOBER:
Sat 4 HALESOWEN TOWN (H)
Tue 7 Grantham Town (A)
Sat 11 Ashton United (A)-date of FAC 3Q
Tue 14 Witton Albion (A)
Sat 18 STOURBRIDGE (H)
Tue 21 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER (H)
Sat 25 Marine (A)--date of FAC 4Q
Tue 28 FRICKLEY ATHLETIC (H)

NOVEMBER:
Sat 1 Halesowen Town (A) FATr 1Q
Tue 4 Stamford (A)
Sat 8 SKELMERSDALE UTD (H)
w/c 10 Doodson Cup 1st Rd
Sat 15 Date of FA Tr 2Q
Wed 19 Whitby Town (A)
Sat 22 Curzon Ashton (A)
Sat 29 King's Lynn Town (A)

DECEMBER:
w/c 1 Doodson Cup 2nd Rd
Sat 6 RAMSBOTTOM UTD (H)
Sat 13 Blyth Spartans (A)
Sat 20 TRAFFORD (H)
Fri 26 Buxton (A)

JANUARY:
Thu 1 BELPER TOWN (H)
Sat 3 GRANTHAM TOWN (H)
Sat 10 Halesowen Town (A)
Sat 17 ASHTON UNITED (H)
Sat 24 WITTON ALBION (H)
Sat 31 Stourbridge (A)

FEBRUARY:
Sat 7 MARINE (H)
Sat 14 Ilkeston FC (A)
Sat 21 Workington (A)
Sat 28 NANTWICH TOWN (H)

MARCH:
Sat 7 Rushall Olympic (A)
Sat 14 WORKINGTON (H)
Sat 21 Doodson Cup semi finals
Sat 28 CURZON ASHTON (H)

APRIL:
Sat 4 Barwell (A)
Mon 6 BUXTON (H)
Sat 11 Skelmersdale United (A)
Sat 18 KING'S LYNN TOWN (H)
Sat 25 Ramsbottom United (A)

RECENT STORIES

A 'DISAPPOINTING' LOSS FOR MATLOCK'S FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON -
On the evidence of Tuesday night's first home game, it could be a long season for Matlock Town. More...

GLADIATORS BATTLE THROUGH A 'DRAB DRAW' FOR THEIR SEASON OPENER -
Matlock will take the positives from this drab opening day encounter at Shawe View which unsurprisingly, finished goalless. More...

TOUGH DECISIONS FOR MATLOCK BOSS AHEAD OF SEASON OPENER -
Nine definite new signings with one more to come, possibly two, means that manager Mark Atkins has some tough decisions to make ahead of this Saturday's league opener at Trafford. More...

MATLOCK NEWS AHEAD OF FINAL
PRE-SEASON GAME OF THE SUMMER -
Matlock Town visit Sheffield FC in their final pre season outing on Saturday 9th August with boss Mark Atkins pledging that places are still up for grabs in the side to face Trafford in the season's curtain raiser on August 16th. More...

MATLOCK NEWS ROUND UP AS INJURY CRISIS GETS WORSE -
An injury crisis is hampering Matlock Town's pre season with no fewer than six first choice players hurt. More...

LEICESTER'S YOUNG GUNS TOO STRONG FOR WEAKENED GLADIATORS -
The young guns of Premiership new boys Leicester City were too strong for a youthful injury hit Gladiators line up, although the Foxes final two strikes were delayed until the dying embers of the contest. More...

MATLOCK MAKE IT FIVE PRE-SEASON WINS IN A ROW -
The Gladiators made it five successive pre-season wins with a 3-1 win in the searing heat of Worksop's Sandy Lane, after an impressive display of passing football. More...

MATLOCK NOTCH UP
A PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY WIN OVER MANSFIELD -
Corey Gregory's 13th minute header won the game for Matlock, who after looking like hitting a cricket score, increasingly lost their way as the game wore on. More...

GLADIATORS BOSS ADMITS STRIKER'S DEPARTURE IS "A HUGE BLOW" -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins admitted that striker Shaun Tuton's departure up the A6 to divisional rivals Buxton was a huge blow. More...

GLADIATORS HIT A SIX IN A PRE-SEASON GAMES BONANZA -
Mark Atkins' desire for more home pre season friendlies has been satisfied to the full as the Gladiators announced their sixth warm up game at the Autoworld Arena. More...

MATLOCK TOWN GET RAMS, OWLS & FOXES VISITS AS WORKSOP TOWN RESIGN -
Matlock Town's pre season programme took shape further this week and it's another prestige home friendly for the Gladiators, as Derby County announced they would be visiting the Autoworld Arena More...

MATLOCK EARN A LAST MINUTE POINT AGAINST BUXTON. MATCH REPORT -
Oscar Radford's 89th minute equaliser, his first goal of the season, earned Matlock a deserved point against ten man Buxton. More...

MATLOCK'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY AS THEY DRAW AT NANTWICH TOWN -
Matlock should really have brought all three points back from the Weaver Stadium on Saturday after dominating the opening half More...

THREE RED CARDS AS MATLOCK EARN THEIR FIRST WIN IN NINE GAMES -
A goal in each half secured Matlock's first win in nine league matches, but the big talking point was a triple sending off incident seven minutes before the break. More...

MATLOCK NEWS ROUND UP AND WHITBY PREVIEW -
Matlock boss Mark Atkins and indeed - the club's fans - wanted a positive reaction from the players in the derby at Buxton on Wednesday night and my word, they got one! More...

A WELL DESERVED POINT FOR MATLOCK AFTER A 'FEISTY' DERBY AT BUXTON -
Martin Foster's penalty at the death, earned Matlock a well deserved point in a feisty derby at the Silverlands, after substitute Mark Reed had headed Buxton in front in the 84th minute. More...

GLADIATORS SURRENDER TO A BATTLING WITTON ALBION -
This was probably Matlock's worst home performance all season as they succumbed to a Witton side battling to avoid relegation. More...

MATLOCK SETTLE
FOR A POINT AFTER LIVELY BATTLE WITH BLYTH -
The Gladiators had to settle for a point in a feisty clash at the Autoworld Arena on Tuesday night which saw eight yellow cards and a Blyth equalizer six minutes from the end. More...

MATLOCK SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT AFTER BATTLING FC UNITED ALL THE WAY -
Matlock made league leaders FC United battle all the way for their eleventh successive league victory, with a spirited performance in front of a 2,044 crowd at Gigg Lane. More...

MATLOCK BRING A HARD EARNED POINT HOME FROM BARWELL. -
Matlock earned a well deserved and hard earned point from a physical and direct encounter when they made their first ever visit to Barwell on Saturday. More...

ATKINS - 'STILL A LOT TO PLAY FOR' MATLOCK TOWN'S NEWS ROUND UP -
Two costly defeats in three days seem to have scuppered Matlock's play off aspirations, but manager Mark Atkins insists there is still plenty to play for. More...

MATLOCK LOSE AN 'EASILY FORGETTABLE GAME' AWAY AT STAMFORD -
An easily forgettable game was settled after 21 minutes when Ryan Robbins netted to give the hosts a vital three points in their escape bid against the drop. More...

A NIGHTMARE DEFEAT FOR MATLOCK AGAINST STRUGGLING STAFFORD -
A home banker turned into a nightmare for Matlock who were on the end of a shock defeat. Match Report More...

MATLOCK MARCH ON WITH A THIRD LEAGUE WIN IN A WEEK - AWAY AT ILKESTON -
The damage was done in the first half as Matlock thoroughly deserved their third league win in a week at the New Manor Ground on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S NEWS AS THEY PREPARE FOR LOCAL DERBY WITH ILKESTON -
Mark Atkins hailed a fantastic three days for Matlock Town and praised his players and the club's fans in the process. More...

MATLOCK EARN AN IMPRESSIVE FIFTH SUCCESSIVE HOME WIN -
Matlock's impressive home record was maintained as they earned a fifth successive win at the Autoworld Arena in a thrilling game with Grantham on Tuesday night. More...

MAGNIFICENT MATLOCK EARN THE WIN AGAINST SKELMERSDALE -
A magnificent performance from the boys in blue earned the hosts a deserved win against second in the table Skelmersdale, in spite of having to play the final sixty four minutes with only ten men. More...

MATLOCK HOPING
FOR A DEBUT WIN AT THE NEWLY NAMED AUTOWORLD ARENA -
Matlock will be wanting their debut game at their newly named Autoworld Arena to be a memorable one, as they aim to bounce back from an out of character hammering at Rushall last weekend. More...

MATLOCK AGREE LUCRATIVE NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH AUTOWORLD -
Matlock Town's ground will now be known as the 'Autoworld Arena', as details of the exciting new sponsorship deal emerged this week. More...

MATLOCK HIT FOR SIX AS THEIR UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN ABRUPT END -
What a way to lose your unbeaten start to 2014! Matlock conceded six goals in a crazy second half, after leading at half time against Rushall Olympic More...

MATLOCK FACE SIX POINTER AT RUSHALL AS 2 NEW SIGNINGS ARE ANNOUNCED -
Matlock face a play off contending six pointer at Rushall Olympic on Saturday as two young faces sign for the Gladiators. More...

ATKINS PRAISES PLAYERS AFTER DIFFICULT WIN AT FRICKLEY & NEWS -
Mark Atkins praised his players after their 3-1 victory at a wet and windy Frickley Athletic last Saturday, going unbeaten in 5 games, 4 of which have brought maximum points. More...

GLADIATORS GO
FIVE UNBEATEN
WITH AWAY WIN AT FRICKLEY -
Matlock extended their unbeaten run to five games and secured their first away win in four months in terrible weather at Westfield Lane on Saturday. More...

GLADIATORS EARN A HARD FOUGHT WIN AT HOME TO DROYLSDEN. MATCH REPORT -
Matlock got the win everyone expected against the basement side, but it was a more difficult challenge than the 4-1 win at the Butchers Arms in October More...

THIS WEEK'S NEWS FROM MATLOCK AND
A PREVIEW OF THE DROYLSDEN GAME -
"We take nothing for granted" will be the message from Matlock boss Mark Atkins as they welcome basement club Droylsden to the Reynolds Stadium on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S MATCH AT STORMY STAMFORD
IS ABANDONED. MATCH REPORT -
Referee David Plowright halted proceedings after 23 minutes when a fierce thunderstorm engulfed the ground and left the pitch saturated. More...

McMAHON SCORES TWO TO GIVE MATLOCK THREE. MATCH REPORT -
Lewis McMahon's brace earned Matlock their victory, but others behind him put in sterling effort to ensure another clean sheet at home. More...

LATE PENALTY DENIES MATLOCK A WIN AFTER SCRAPPY ENCOUNTER -
A 78th minute penalty leveller denied Matlock all three points from a scrappy encounter at The Meres against Grantham Town. More...

MATLOCK NEWS AND PREVIEW OF SATURDAY'S AWAY TRIP TO GRANTHAM -
After ending high flying Worksop Town's unbeaten run at the thirteenth game, Matlock Town face a different challenge when they travel to Grantham on Saturday. More...

MATLOCK'S INABILITY TO FINISH COSTS THEM ANOTHER 3 POINTS -
For this week's report, see last weeks and probably many before! More points go astray for Matlock simply because they could not finish chances off. More...

MATLOCK'S DERBY DRAW IN THE DARK
AS BUXTON'S BULBS BLOW! -
The lights went out with a bang at the Silverlands to end this Boxing Day A6 derby early at half time. More...

MATLOCK GET THE CLEAN SHEET - BUT NOT THE THREE POINTS -
Again this was a tale of Matlock being unable to take the few chances that came their way in a dour stalemate at home against Marine. More...

ALL THE GLADIATORS' NEWS AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEK FIXTURES -
"Individual mistakes are killing us!" declared Matlock boss Mark Atkins after the disappointing and frustrating recent run of form More...

MATLOCK DEFEAT AT STOCKSBRIDGE WAS "LARGELY SELF INFLICTED" -
Matlock Town's disappointing defeat away to struggling Stocksbridge Park Steels, was largely self inflicted. More...

MATLOCK MAKE IT AN UNWANTED HAT TRICK WITH A THIRD CUP EXIT -
Matlock made it an unwanted hat-trick of cup exits against lower league opposition this term, as Glossop knocked them out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup. More...

MATLOCK GET THEIR FIRST WIN IN SIX AS THEY BEAT
TRAFFORD -
This first league win in six matches for Matlock Town was achieved with a little more difficulty than was envisaged at the half time break which came at a bad time for the home side. More...

MATLOCK HAVE 'ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME' AFTER
DEFEAT TO WITTON -
Matlock had only themselves to blame for not winning a game they dominated at Witton Albion. More...

MATLOCK MAKE HARD WORK OF A WIN OVER HALLAM IN MID-WEEK FRIENDLY -
The Gladiators made hard work of beating Toolstation NCEL First Division visitors Hallam, in a hastily arranged friendly game at the Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday night More...

MATLOCK SUFFER UNDESERVED FA TROPHY EXIT AT CHORLEY -
Chorley secured a hat-trick of victories against Matlock with this FA Trophy result at Victory Park last Saturday, but the 2-0 scoreline fails to tell the whole story as Matlock deserved at least a replay. More...

MATLOCK MAKE A POINT AGAINST HIGH FLYERS AFC FYLDE. MATCH REPORT -
Danny Holland had given Matlock a deserved interval lead against title contenders AFC Fylde, but the Coasters got a fortunate break five minutes into the second half to level through Andy Russell. More...

TOUGH FIXTURES AND A FAIR PLAY AWARD IN A GLADIATORS NEWS ROUND-UP -
If Monday's FA Trophy draw seemed tough - a visit to Chorley on November 16th - then Mark Atkins' men received confirmation that would be the case in Tuesday night's 3-1 league defeat on the same ground. More...

GLADIATORS FALL AT THE HANDS OF LIKELY DIVISION CHAMPIONS. MATCH REPORT -
Sometimes it's a case of holding hands up and admitting the better side won! This was the case for away fans at Victory Park on Bonfire Night, as the fireworks came from Chorley, who completed a league double over Matlock More...

Related Links

Matlock Town Website