Goals from top scorer Ross Hannah and Jamie Jackson gave the Gladiators a massive victory which again pulled them out of the relegation places and served as a much needed boost after the horror show at Buxton on Good Friday.
A 486 crowd witnes
sed a battling performance all over the pitch from Matlock which begs the question as to why this sort of tenacity and fight cannot be shown in every game they play.
Now once again they have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.
Matlock made three changes from the Buxton debacle with Ross Hannah replacing Dene Cropper in attack and Danny Wood coming in for Ian Clarke in midfield as they lined up with a 4-4-2 formation.
Lee Featherstone replaced Paul Riley at left back.
Hednesford, one time league leaders but now chasing a play-off spot, had been more impressive on their travels than at home recently, and thy made a bright start.
A well constructed move down the right saw Ross Dyer head down Anthony Maguire's cross for the supporting midfielder Elliott Durrell who lifted his shot high over the bar.
Then on seven minutes Paul Pettinger pulled off a brilliant and crucial save from Sam Hall who looked destined to score with a fiercely hit drive as he broke into the penalty box.
The importance of that save was underlined just five minutes later as against the run of the early play HANNAH put Matlock in front with a stunning goal.
Davidson flicked on Pettinger's long clearance and Hannah was on to it in a flash, lifting an exquisite chip over goalkeeper Stuart Brock from 25 yards.
The goal gave Matlock increased confidence and heart and Hannah might have netted again just three minutes later as he broke clear only for Brock to somehow deflect the shot wide for a corner from which Davidson climbed high at the back post to nod wide.
The Pitmen though were still a danger but Matlock were defending superbly, their tackling was magnificently timed and everyone was playing their part in keeping the clean sheet.
They might have been breached though on 27 minutes when with Pettinger flat footed, the busy Durrell's shot sped a couple of feet past the goalkeeper's right hand post.
Shortly afterwards Pettinger made another top drawer save from Tyrone Barnett's header which looked to be creeping inside that same upright.
The half ended with Hednesford on the attack once more as Hall fired too high.
Matlock though could be highly satisfied with thjeir first half showing and the art of defending competently would be borne out more as the game progressed.
Hednesford won an early free kick afdter a skirmish just inside the Matlock half which saw Davidson and visiting skipper Ross Draper booked.
It was cleared at the expense of a corner which was knocked clear by Pettinger who seemed determined to keep his goal intact.
Draper then headed wide before Matlock broke at pace with Davidson clean through down the middle.
Brock won this battle as he pushed away the shot for a corner.
But the respite for Brock and Hednesford would only be brief as Matlock doubled the lead from that flag kick on 64 minutes.
Ashley Foyle rose to head downwards and although the ball was probably going in anyway, JACKSON made doubly sure and now Matlock really did have something to fight for.
Hannah chased absolutely everything and he was soon scampering down the left and it took a fine clearance from Decio Gomes to prevent his cross from reaching Jackson who was soon to be replaced by Ian Clarke, having picked up a knock or two earlier in the contest.
Steve Warne, Liam King and Danny Wood worked their socks off in the middle of the park to make life easier for the defence but there was desire throughout the team that was so sadly lacking at Buxton.
Talk about chalk and cheese performances!
Hednesford had used all of their substitutes when Gomes hit the turf writhing in agony with suspected knee ligament damage on 81 minutes.
He left the arena on a strretcher to warm applause while at the same time referee Richard Bartlett also had to be replaced through injury.
Senior assistant Phil Jones took over with local official Kevin Marchant running the line for the closing stages.
Although the Pitmen still kept coming forward, there would be no way back for them now and Matlock might have made better use of a couple of promising situations towards the end.
But the job had been professionally done from the Gladiators viewpoint.
They had been backed to the hilt by a partisan crowd for a hard earned but deserved win from probably potentially the toughest of the three games they had left before the kick off.
But the job is not yet done.
Such is the tightness of the division near the bottom, they must aim for six points from their two remaining games. Bearing in mind that they have yet to register back to back league wins this season, that won't be easy.
This win though will give them the belief that they can do it.
Matlock Town: Pettinger, Brough, Featherstone, King, Foyle, Laight, Jackson (Clarke 71), Warne, Davidson, Hannah (Benger 90), Wood. Other subs: Cropper, Yates, Buxton.
Referee: R Bartlett (Sale)
Attendance: 486
Star Man: Ross Hannah
