Matlock Town knocked out of Doodson Sport NPL Cup by Daventry

It was a tie Matlock boss Mark Hume used to cast his eye over fringe and reserve team players.

Jack Siddall, a goalscorer in the epic against Blyth at the weekend, started in attack with fellow reserve teamers Tom Laister and Sam Lavelle deeper and Matt Wilkinson on the bench.

A mixture of injury, illness and suspension ruled out Micky Harcourt, Craig Nelthorpe, Laurie Wilson, Nicky Travis, Scott Maxfield and Danny Holland, with Liam Needham being included on the bench along with Holland.

Siddall’s first full game could have had a dream start as he raced clear of the visiting defence in only the secnd minute but blazed high and wide with only goalkeeper Ben Heath to beat.

It was nearly a debut to remember for both Laister and Lavelle as Laister headed home a corner on the half hour but the ball brushed the offside Harry Coates on the goal line. Then on 44 minutes Lavelle screwed his shot against a post from a cross by Niall McManus.

In between these two chances though there was a goal for Daventry, a chance to double the lead almost immediately and another great chance falling to Siddall.

Daventry’s 33rd minute opener came when Willis failed to claim a Joe Curtis free kick from the left and Mitch Piggon drove firmly into an empty net.

But Purkiss equalised for the hosts seconds before the interval with a 35 yeard cracker.

Daventry regained the lead on 62 minutes when Crutis scored from the spot after Willis had clattered into Nabil Shariff.

Matlock’s hopes of another fightback were dashed in the 69th minute when a Ted Cribley free kick was easily cleared and Kieron Fitzgerald sprinted forward to slip a pass to Shariff to shoot calmly into the corner.