After the meek surrender to Buxton in midweek, manager Mark Atkins got the ideal response with a battling performance which brought them a well deserved point at second placed Nantwich.

And it could so easily have been a three point haul!

Dave Whittaker's fifth minute goal enhanced the home side's hopes of inflicting their expected slaughter of the Gladiators, but Matlock had other ideas, and once Dene Cropper had levelled on 37 minutes, it was Matlock who finished the more likely winners as the Dabbers finished with ten men.

Atkins rang the changes, giving full debuts to defender Adam Yates and on-loan striker Danny Davidson, recalling Lee Featherstone and Liam King, dropping Jamie Jackson and Danny Wood to the bench and leaving out Paul Riley completely.

Yates operated from the right back position with King, Matty Thorpe and Steve Warne in midfield and the Gladiators also fielded three out and out strikers in Davidson, Cropper and Ross Hannah.

Matlock looked to have the better of a swirling wind at the start, but it was Nantwich who had the early pressure, forcing Matlock back and winning two early corners.

And Matlock got off to the start they clearly didn't want when a misunderstanding between Paul Pettinger and Ryan Laight on the edge of the box gave WHITTAKER the opportunity to slide a precision finish low into the corner.

Referee Ryan Johnson then ridiculously booked Cropper who challenged former Macclesfield and Burton Albion central defender Darren Tinson for a high ball and the feeling was that, even at this early stage, in a competitive game, 22 players would not be featuring at the final whistle.

Another mix up in the visitors defence allowed a shooting chance for the prolific Michael Lennon which sailed over the bar and Pettinger then had to field a low shot from Ashley Carter after Lee Featherstone's header back had been misjudged in the strong wind.

But despite these Nantwich chances, Matlock were not out of it with Ross Hannah volleying wide after Richard Smith had only half cleared a cross from Adam Yates, who had an accomplished match.

And on 20 minutes after Hannah was brought down, the free kick ws played quickly with Featherstone finding a way around the back of the Dabbers defence to fire in a cross shot which was pushed out well by goalkeeper Lee Jones.

Yates was then close to his first Matlock goal, bursting forward down the right to shoot low towards the far post. With Jones beaten, Smith was well placed to clear off the line.

In what looked to be a wake up call for the promotion chasers, they had both Danny Griggs and Ashley Carter booked for nasty challenges on Yates and Hannah before Lennon flicked a header too high with Yates still off the field after Griggs' challenge.

But showing a resilience that was so sadly lacking against Buxton, Matlock showed true character and they equalised when Featherstone rose to meet a right wing corner with a power packed header which crashed down off the bar and CROPPER lunged forward, putting his head amongst flying boots to force the ball home.

The goal lifted the Gladiators and before the break they began to gain the upper hand as Jones did just enough to block a Hannah shot and after Davidson had superbly held play up in the Nantwich penalty box, Cropper's overhead effort dropped narrowly wide.

The half ended with Liam King being booked for fouling home skipper Phil Parkinson, with Atkins no doubt pleased with his side's industry and wanting a lot more of the same in the second period.

Nantwich, as in the first half, had the early play with Carter seeing his shot deflected wide with Pettinger being impeded as he came to claim the resulting corner.

However, that proved to be Carter's last meaningful contribution as on 54 minutes, an innocuous-looking challenge by the Dabbers' number seven on King saw him on his way for an early shower.

As Matlock tried to take full advantage of their extra man, Cropper's cross from the right was marginally too long for the onrushing Featherstone at the far post and the header bounced a couple of yards wide.

Then Cropper headed over before Atkins sent on Jackson for his extra pace and withdrawing his goalscorer.

Almost immediately the former Spireite winger was teasing Dave Tickle and his cross shot forced Jones to dive low to his right and hold on well.

Then on 70 minutes Matlock came within a lick of paint of a deserved second goal as Davidson turned brilliantly to hoist a shot goalwards only for Jones to magnificently tip on to the bar before the ball was gratefully hacked clear.

Featherstone was booked after a poor goal kick by Pettinger saw the full back having to impede Griggs, but the goalkeeper ensured that Nantwich would not provide the proverbial sting in the tail when he efficiently dealt with a Parkinson free kick.

At the death there was a chance for Matlock to secure the precious extra two points as Davidson's fine ball in from the right was met by Hannah, but the powerful header was straight down the throat of Jones.

So after the brickbats thrown at them after the Buxton display, it's time for the bouquets in a vastly improved showing.

It begs the question as to why battling performances like this cannot be produced on a consistent basis.

If this could happen then Matlock would not be in the relegation mire.

It's a conundrum for Atkins and his players to solve.

Saturday showed what they are capable of.

They did both the ugly and the attractive things, and won the battle in everything but the final scoreline.

They played with pride.

Now they must build on this performance.

All too often this season they have failed to do so.

The challenge is there once again to do just that.

MATLOCK TOWN: Pettinger, Yates, Featherstone, King, Foyle, Laight, Davidson, Warne, Cropper (Jackson 65), Hannah, Thorpe. Other subs: Benger, Wood, Buxton.
REFEREE: R L Johnson (Manchester).
ATTENDANCE: 783.
STAR MAN: Adam Yates.