Match report - Matlock Town 4-1 Grantham Town

The result was not quite as comfortable as the scoreline suggests though. If the Gingerbreads can gain any consolation from their defeat it was that they caused the home defence more problems than most other visiting sides this season, even more than high-flying Skelmersdale three days earlier who had been facing just ten Gladiators.

Grantham midfielder Jack McGovern forced a decent diving save from Jon Kennedy to push away his low drive early on, but Matlock replied instantly with Shaun Tuton extending keeper Dan Haystead before from the resulting corner, David Haggerty headed directly at Haystead.

Then Matlock’s goal had a charmed life as Kennedy pulled off a terrific stop from Paul Grimes and then with the help of his team mates, knocked an effort from Michael Towey off the line.

That quick double escape was the impetus Matlock needed to exert some authority on proceedings and Danny Holland struck from the penalty spot on 31 minutes. Deon Meikle stuck out a leg to upend the Matlock number nine as he received Micky Harcourt’s low cross from the right and he comfortably dispatched his shot to Haystead’s left.

Matlock maintained the pressure and Holland, with a bullet header from James Ashmore’s 39th minute corner, doubled the Gladiators’ advantage.

He cheekily aimed for his hat-trick minutes later with a quick-thinking first time effort that Haystead comfortably fielded after Grantham were caught out by Haggerty’s huge clearance.

Grantham looked for an early second-half reply but Matlock stood firm and then extended their advantage when Tuton forced his way beyond the Gingerbreads’ fragile looking rearguard from Adam Yates’ forward header, to draw Haystead and fire clinically into the corner.

Corey Gregory looked like he had a point to prove when replacing Lavell White and almost instantly he caused Grantham headaches with a probing run from the right before Haystead grabbed his firmly struck low effort.

A moment of indiscretion from Oscar Radford, who appeared to virtually catch the ball in his own penalty box, saw him booked and concede a penalty which was converted by Grimes with 20 minutes to go.

But any faint hopes the Lincolnshire lads might have harboured of a dramatic fightback were extinguished within just three minutes.

Sub Daryll Thomas broke down the left and his low cross was softly pushed into Tuton’s path who gleefully accepted the easiest of chances.

After Tuton went off with two minutes left, his young replacement Alex Bradshaw nearly had a debut to remember.

With just his second touch he found room on the right but pulled his low shot agonisingly wide of the far post, but the win was already secure.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Matlock: 1 Jon Kennedy 2 Micky Harcourt 3 Joe Leesley 4 James Ashmore 5 David Haggerty 6 Oscar Radford 7 Liam Needham 8 Adam Yates 9 Danny Holland (Daryll Thomas 72) 10 Shaun Tuton (Alex Bradshaw 88) 11 Lavell White (Corey Gregory 65) Unused subs: Martin Foster, Matty Leese

Grantham: 1 Dan Haystead 2 Sam Purcicoe 3 Lee Ridley 4 Deon Meikle 5 Paul Lister 6 Rhys Lewis 7 Jack McGovern 8 Michael Towey (Keiran Walker 72) 9 Paul Grimes 10 Greg Smith (Gary King 72) 11 Lee Potts Unused subs: Josh Lacey, Adie Hawes Ref: T Bramall

Att: 292

Best Gladiator: Shaun Tuton

Report by Ian Richardson