Lancaster snatch stoppage-time victory with dramatic Norris strike

After Tuesday night’s dramatics, you’d think that The Dollies had had their fill for the week. But, after Matlock had seemingly snatched a point with a dagger of a goal against the run of play, and with only minutes to spare, Lancaster rose off the canvas like Tyson Fury to punch back immediately through none other than the veteran David Norris. He vaporised the visitors' jubilation with the swing of a timeless boot.

Mark Fell’s hand was forced into naming a bit-part backline as defensive injuries to Andrew Teague, out with a broken arm, and Jamie Mellen necessitated the move of Niall Cowperthwaite, Brad Carroll and Charlie Bailey from midfield into defence. Brad Carsley earned a starting berth after his impressive midweek cameo, and David Norris returned to the 11 after injury. In both teams combined, only seven players remained from the two squads that clashed in Matlock nearly a year ago. Non-league football waits for no man.

Giant Axe had not seen any action for three weeks and the pitch was tested early when Carsley and Dom Lawson combined for a slick one-two around the Matlock defence – Carsley curled it into the keeper’s funnelled arms.

Caught on the break and warned into dropping deep, they encouraged Lancaster into crosses which were handily repelled, while Carsley and Lawson initially toiled to establish a foothold for central attacks to prosper.

Matlock were equally blunt at the other end. Wearing the number 5 shirt and captain’s armband, Cowperthwaite looked even more like Teague than usual and ensured his skipper’s absence wasn’t felt, muscling any creative inclinations out of Matlock’s nippy strike partnership. He and Matlock’s Karl Demidh both went into the book for grappling on the floor after a hefty Cowperthwaite intervention.

Lawson, Christian Sloan and Sam Bailey had some success on the ground, negotiating the uneven surface with great concentration in their interplay, finally manipulating space to cross for Carsley who towered in the air but couldn’t get over the header he planted wide. His early attempt remained the game’s peak.

The canvas remained blank at the half, eager to be traced with a story. And how it would get one. The looming frustration of another Giant Axe 0-0 was creeping forwards from only 45 minutes distance, but Lancaster had an opportunity to consign that trend to the past.

While Matlock were guilty of taking the restart for granted, Lancaster duly punished them with a clinical goal from the head of Cowperthwaite at the start of the second half. Charlie Bailey simply chipped a corner to the back post and Cowperthwaite rose like a cloud above his marker, planting a header past Saul Deeney with no fuss for 1-0. With such dominance in the air, he was only adding to the list of Teagueisms.

Lawson was close to doubling the lead when he raced into a one-on-one but Deeney threw out his frame to block the finish. He wasn’t dwelling on it – Carsley was a last-second interception away from converting Lawson’s brilliant hold-up play into an assist. At the other end, defensive concentration remained high despite periods of disuse, especially when Ed Ikpakwu positioned himself perfectly to block a ball on the line after some dangerous set-piece pinball.

It was an isolated incident; Lancaster were soon up the other end, maintaining pressure from a set-piece, with Carroll cleverly breaking off the shoulder of the last man, whirling round to dangerously volley a through ball, but not for a second goal. Matlock were still in it only by virtue of wastefulness.

As well as they’d played, Lancaster were naturally dropping deeper and would have an awkward conclusion to manage regardless of prior events. Mark Fell aimed to refresh attacking energy with the substitution of Nic Evangelinos for Carsley, though the patterns weren’t at that end of the pitch to support them. Off the ball, there was an endless supply, blue bodies winning everything in the air and flying into blocks and challenges from front to back.

The wall seemed shut and sealed, but Matlock were about to punish Lancaster with a late, brutal sucker-punch goal. Charlie Bailey was shown a straight red off the ball for an incident only the referee seemed to see. We moved into added time and Matlock showed intent only for that vacant left-back position. Alex Byrne hit a cross, deflected, into the air. Bodies froze in the box, Demidh rose above the stationary mass and had the ball bouncing slowly, but unstoppably into the net.

Giant Axe deflated and waited for the whistle to initiate the grieving process. David Norris had other ideas. Somewhere in the middle of the pitch, the play broke down and Norris latched onto the ball. There was still work to do – he slalomed back and forth, bearing closer towards goal. Then the moment to pull the trigger appeared. Decades of experience channelled themselves into one shot. He crashed the ball low past Deeney to make it 2-1 at the very death.

Now it really was over – Lancaster had a transformative three points and the greatest feeling in football to cherish.

Match photos courtesy of Andrew Shepherd: https://www.flickr.com/photos/197547809@N07/sets/72177720305607533/