Matlock knew they were in for a tough game, but not quite as tough as the itturned out.
Not playing badly Matlock managed to score within the first ten minutes, however a u-turn by the umpire saw the goal disallowed much to their disappointment.
Numerous penalty corners followed but with no goal Matlock soon found themselves on the back foot and defending a rejuvenated Ripley team.
Fine individual performances from Becky Mead and Beth Willis kept the momentum up front and a well worked run down the right wing was slotted home by Sarah Wain.
Matlock, however, were not prepared for the attack that followed and Ripley managed to score an equaliser from a scramble in the Matlock goal.
Matlock were slow and showed a lack of determination, but the half-time whistle went and the home team managed to get some tactics together from coach Smedley for the second-half.
A goal in the first few minutes of the second half by Vicki Hammond was just what Matlock needed, however defenders Helen Spencer, Danni Bacon and Nicky Camfield had to be on top form to stop the Ripley stampede but stop them they did and thankfully the whistle blew to secure three points and to keep them at the top of the league.
Matlock Baileans 5ths 6 Derby Asterdale 2
Matlock triumphed this week against a determined Derby Asterdale third team.
The match got off to a slow start, with both teams making attacking runs into their opposition's halves.
Matlock quickly got ahead though with an excellent cross from man-of-the-match Alice Spencer being slammed in by Nina Smedley.
However just minutes later Derby Asterdale scored to make the footing even once more.
This made Matlock desperate to get their lead back and they worked hard for the remainder of the first-half, earning back the lead with a goal from Spencer.
The second-half saw Matlock continue to attack strongly, with every player leaping on every free ball and making the most of the fantastic passes the defence were working through.
They were soon rewarded with Smedley's second goal of the match and another goal from Chloe Farmer.
Helen Greer made an attacking short corner count as her powerful, accurate hit from the top of the D found its way into the corner of the goal.
Despite marking the fast Asterdale attack tightly all match and defending really well, some messy play in front of Matlock's goal proved fatal when an own goal was scored.
However this merely proved to be another motivation for goalscoring machine Smedley, who calmly scored another goal to complete Matlock's scoring her own hat-trick.
Matlock Baileans 6ths 1 Belper Otters 1
THE sixths took on Belper Otters in horrid weather conditions and had to be content with a draw.
Otters scored a lucky goal in the first-half, despite staunch defending from Rae Hunt and Jo Boam at the back and good saves from goalie Claire Mosely.
