Gladiators Get Their Revenge
By Steve Hobson
Report by David Robinson
Matlock got their revenge reversing last week’s result at Hurst Cross with a convincing victory at Causeway Lane. Ashton were missing the injured Domenico Maiese and the suspended Matty Chadwick and it showed as the Gladiators made the early running on a glorious spring day as Wiley headed Sharpe’s early corner wide and then repeated the feat two minutes later after McManus’ shot had been blocked.
Dinanga’s goal bound shot was then blocked by Max Cartwright before the same player brought a low save out of Luke Pilling who shortly afterwards had to tip over Sharpe’s free kick. Ryan Crowther’s flick was then just too far ahead of Jack Dyche before Josh Stachini’s free kick was glanced just wide by Cartwright just ahead of the interval.
On the resumption McManus’ dangerous right wing cross was headed away by Simon Woodford but the ball was immediately returned by Cleveland Taylor for Michael Williams to head home over the advancing Pilling. Wiley then glanced Sharpe’s left wing cross wide as Matlock upped the pressure and Williams picked up a loose ball and brought a flying save out of Ashton’s keeper.
Dyche then blocked Wiley’s attempted clearance and sent the Robin’s best effort for a while whistling across goal before Duke’s inside pass saw Dyche bring a tip over out of Barnes with Cartwright’s header from the resulting corner being cleared from near the goal line by Taylor. With 20 minutes left Taylor’s pass put Dinanga clear and he slid the ball home past Pilling and 6 minutes later Yates headed home Sharpe’s corner unchallenged. Ashton attempted to pull one back as a fine through ball from Jody Banim saw Dyche just denied by Barnes at the expense of a corner which Dyche volleyed over and Dyche almost turned provider setting up Banim for another low save from Barnes.
Team: Pilling, Smalley, Mason, Cartwright, Woodford, Lees, Duke (Banim), Stachini, Dyche, Knight (Coo), Crowther. SNU: Haining, Roberts, Lowe.