Staveley MW..........................1

Gregory 48

Matlock Town.......................4

Cropper 12, 21, 26, Barraclough 87

DENE Cropper served early notice that he intends to give joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams a selection headache for the forward positions with a well taken first half hat-trick at Inkersall Road on Saturday.

Matlock were totally dominant in the opening half and could have had a far more emphatic lead by the interval before a plethora of substitutions led to a more even second period.

The final outcome though was still never in doubt.

Ryan Laight was given the skipper's armband, partnering Ryan Davis in central defencen with Matty Thorpe and new signing Lee Featherstone starting in the full back positions.

Ashley Foyle and Cameron Fearon had knocks so were not risked.

Liam King and triallist Simon Harrison ran the show in central midfield, with Gary Webster and Matty Caudwell beginning on the flanks.

Another triallist, Jake Williams from Chesterfield, partnered Cropper up front, with the Gladiators having a strong bench which included Steve Warne, Simon Barraclough and Jamie Jackson.

King and Harrison soon had the Gladiators surging forward and Webster's second minute centre had the home defence struggling, being relieved to escape with a corner which on this occasion came to nothing.

Williams' movement was causing Staveley countless problems and he was unlucky not to open the scoring from 22 yards following a smart turn.

The pressure was maintained with Williams having a shot desperately blocked after fine approach play from King and Webster, and it was no surprise when the Gladiators went in front in the 12th minute.

The sprightly Caudwell swung in an excellent corner from the right and Cropper found room to power in a bullet like header.

Two minutes later, Caudwell produced a searching cross from the left and Webster headed into the sidenetting at the far post.

A second goal was not long in coming as, on 21 minutes, Harrison and King again opened up Staveley's overworked rearguard with the ball breaking to Thorpe who crossed long and true and Cropper's trademark header flew into ther roof of the net.

Caudwell's diagonal strike from the left was charged down, but Cropper completed his hat trick by the 26th minute when, from a corner on the left, Laight was held back illegally and the penalty was superbly put away by the 6ft 2ins hit man, who was looking hungry and imposing.

Andy Richmond was having the easiest of afternoons, not having a single shot to save before the break and the half came to an end with King feeding Harrison, whose daisycutter was only a matter of inches wide of the target.

Cropper was taken off to give Barraclough a taste of the action and the Staveley defence must have breathed a huge sigh of relief.