A LATE Nantwich recovery halted Matlock's winning league sequence at the fifth time of asking in the only UniBond Premier Division game to beat the cold snap on New Year's Day.

After a scoreless opening half, the Gladiators went ahead through leading scorer Ross Hannah 13 minutes after the interval only for the Dabbers to come storming back to turn the match on its head.

Dave McPherson levelled on 77 minutes and former Derby County striker Marvin Robinson flicked in the winner five minutes later.

The Weaver Stadium surface was mostly in good fettle having been protected from the sharp overnight frost but an area under the main stand was of concern though survived a noon inspection.

Matlock went into the game without the suspended Liam King who was replaced by Darren Cartwright, rib injury victim Lee Featherstone, whose place went to Scott Brough and significantly on loan goalkeeper Arron Jameson. Sheffield Wednesday recalled him just as the Gladiators were setting out for Nantwich following an injury to one of their senior keepers in training on New Year's Day morning.

Goalkeeping coach Nick Buxton again came in and performed magnificently.
In an even start both Ross Hannah and Nantwich's Ged Murphy fired wide from the edge of the box before Buxton was down well to hold a low free-kick from Andy Kinsey.

Seconds later another low Kinsey drive produced the first of a series of fine saves by Buxton.

Matlock replied with Nathan Joynes and Hannah combining well only for Hannah to fire straight at goalkeeper Ben Chapman before Buxton again excelled with a superb block save from Robinson after a clever Nantwich build up down the inside right channel.

Matlock might have grabbed an interval lead when Gareth Davies floated in a 41st minute free-kick for James Lukic to nod goalwards. If the header had got a touch more power in it Matlock would have drawn first blood but Chapman took off to his left to produce a marvellous finger tip save.

Just 90 seconds later though, Nantwich could have been celebrating but for Buxton who prevented Simon Sturdy from registering an own goal with a stunning save low to his right after the defender had tried to cut out a left wing cross.

Within three minutes of the re-start, Nathan Joynes wasted a gilt edged opportunity to put Matlock in front after Hannah had worried the experienced Darren Tinson and Chapman into an error. The ball dropped for Joynes who scooped the ball too high from 12 yards with all of the goal to aim at.

Kinsey screwed a shot wide and Ross Davidson pulled a long range effort beyond the far post as the game began to open out.

Hannah then drove powerfully at Chapman after Joynes had nodded a Ben Algar long pass into his path, and the feeling was Nantwich's back line was not convincing and that Matlock might get some joy before too long.

That feeling came to fruition as Hannah's pace took him beyond the trailing defenders and with Chapman rushing out, the striker's clever lob over the goalkeeper from the edge of the box had just enough venom to beat Tinson's vain attempt to keep the ball out.

Buxton kept the visitors in front with a tremendous stop from Kevin Street before holding Tinson's header from the resulting corner.

Matlock's lead might have been doubled but for a brilliant save by Chapman. Hannah was clear but Chapman flew to his left to get a powerful hand to Hannah's thunderbolt of a strike to keep Nantwich in the game with 20 minutes left.

Nantwich brought on last season's UniBond Premier Division leading marksman Michael Lennon for Kinsey with a quarter of an hour to go. Just over a minute later, Davies, who had won most of the scraps in midfield, was harshly penalised and from the free-kick Matlock were totally asleep as McPherson was left unmarked to lash in the loose ball from ten yards.

The hosts poured forward as Matlock's recent inactivity probably began to take its toll. Nantwich, buoyed by their 2-0 Boxing Day win at Marine, were looking to make it two wins out of two over the festive period and their wish came true.

A corner from the right was hit long and Street volleyed the ball back into the mix from the left and Robinson flicked home from close range.
Nathan Benger replaced Algar as Matlock went with three strikers but Nantwich comfortably saw out the remaining eight minutes after their winner.

The Gladiators will reflect that they did enough to earn a point. They had their chances, particularly the Joynes attempt just after the interval and then the Hannah one which could have put the Dabbers well out of contention.

Equally Nick Buxton's performance deserved some reward, with Buxton commenting afterwards that he didn't feel Nantwich were going to score.

Matlock Town: Nick Buxton, Adam Yates, Scott Brough, Darren Cartwright, Simon Sturdy, James Lukic, Gareth Davies, Steve Warne, Nathan Joynes, Ross Hannah, Ben Algar (Nathan Benger 83).
Subs not used: Stef Frost, Mark Haran
Att: 707
Ref: D Croft (Birkenhead)
Matlock Star Man: Nick Buxton