The hosts took the lead inside the opening five minutes when Spencer Harris converted from the penalty spot. Jordan Sinnott added a second goal just after the hour mark with an empathic finish.

Basford did manage to pull a goal back when substitute Liam Hearn smashed the ball home from the penalty spot with ten minutes to go but it was too late as Matlock held on for the win.

There were no changes to the Basford starting XI that held Stafford Rangers to a goalless draw in their last outing.

The hosts got off to the perfect start and were in front inside three minutes. Dan Bramall burst into the area before being brought down, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. From the subsequent spot kick Harris sent Basford ‘keeper Kieran Preston the wrong way to open the scoring.
Just minutes later Matlock came close to a second. A long punt forward was flicked into the path of Jordan Sinnott and he poked it just wide of the post.

Sinnott had another chance just before the quarter of an hour mark. Matlock worked the ball down the left and it was pulled back to Sinnott who was denied by Preston at point blank range.

When Basford had a rare venture into the home sides half their finishing was wayward. Kane Richards headed wide at the back post and Nat Watson blazed over the bar after some good skill to create some room to shoot on the edge of the box.

Bramall, who had cause Basford issues throughout the first half, drove into the area again and this time pulled the ball back to Marcus Marshall but he could not get any solid contact on the ball and Basford were able to scramble it clear, in what was the last action of the half before the break.

The second half started slowly as both sides struggled to settle into any possession, meaning there was more substitutions than chances. Luke Hinsley replaced Piteu Crouz for the hosts and Courey Grantham came on for Dan Roma as Basford looked to push for an equaliser.

When there was a chance it brought with it the second goal of the game. Marshall did well to hold off a defender and square it to Sinnott who smashed the ball into the net to give the home side a two-goal lead.

Basford kept hold of the ball well after the second goal but failed to create any real chances. Jamie Walker’s free kick was too close to Town ‘keeper Jon Stewart after some good skill by Nat Watson.

After both Courey Grantham and Kane Richards attempted to burst into the area Matlock came close again. Bramall burst away down the wing and cut in before laying off to Harris to fire goalwards.

Basford got themselves a goal back with ten minutes left on the clock. Stef Galinski was taken out by Stewart forcing the referee to point to the spot for the second time. Hearn stepped up to smash the penalty past Stewart to get his side back into the game.

Basford sensed an equaliser and after Richards’ chip drifted just over the bar he had a great chance to make the score level. He broke away from the Matlock defence and fired goalwards but his effort ended up the wrong side of the post and hit the side netting.

They continued to push but were unable to force Stewart into any real action as the Matlock held on to book their place in the next round of the FA Cup

Starting XI: 1- Preston, 2- Law, 3- Roma (Grantham), 4- Carr (Thomas), 5- Gascoigne, 6- Galinski, 7- Richards, 8- Chettle, 9- Watson, 10- Thornhill (Hearn), 11- Walker

Up Next Home vs Stalybridge Celtic
09/09/2019
Kick-off 7:45pm