Can we play away every week? In contrast to their home results Leek Town remain unbeaten on their travels so far this season as they came from behind to beat Matlock Town 2-1 on Bank Holiday Monday with the Blues finally coming out on the right side of a game that had a late goal.

It was a tale of two halves with Josh Brehaut’s men putting in probably their worst 45mins of the season in an extremely poor first half before a much improved second half display, prompted by half time substitutions, turned the game on its head and earned the Blues an important 3pts. with the goals scored by Joe Woolley and Adam Porter.

Leek started with the same eleven that had endured injury time heartache against Gainsborough on Saturday but it looked as if the side were still suffering a hangover from that experience with a really slow start against a Matlock side that looked more motivated to try and achieve their first win of the season.

And the home side went ahead with their first meaningful attack of the game after 13mins. A long ball down the Matlock right was not dealt with by Liam Edwards which allowed the Gladiators to pick up possession just outside the area and when right full back Keenan Fergusson whipped in an inviting cross into the area his fellow left full back Joseph West was able to climb over Tom Curl to head powerfully past Dino Visser and make it 1-0.

Leek tried to hit back and won their opening corner of the game on 15mins. The delivery from Lucas Weir to the near post was missed by Edwards and Olly Harrison was unable to wrap a foot around it as the ball passed through the area and allowed the hosts to break away quickly down the left resulting in Harry Wood trying a drive that Visser watched fly harmlessly wide.

Wood was looking lively and full of hard work. He was instrumental in a threatening Gladiators attack down the left that was only snuffed out when Harrison was well positioned to cut out the low cross being fouled in the process.

In contrast Leeks attack was non-existent with their main goal threat, once again, looking like it would have to come from set pieces. Brendan Daniels did appeal for a penalty on 23mins when falling to floor as he tried to roll his opponent in the area but was not strong enough to hold off the challenge whilst Matlock’s Sam Essen also looked to the referee a minute later claiming he had been blocked by Liam Buckley but play was allowed to continue in both cases.

On 33mins Leek had their best and only chance of the half. Billy Reeves did well to anticipate a Matlock pass and won the ball to advance forward on the break. Almost immediately he played the perfect through ball inside the full back for Alex Hurst to run onto but as he advanced towards the area he took a heavy touch and the ball ran through to goalkeeper Rogan Ravenhill.

The Blues were perhaps fortunate to make it to the break only 1-0 down as the Gladiators piled on the pressure late on in the half. Wood fired straight at Visser on 45mins after Essien had done well to cut in from the right and find his team mate, whilst Visser than had to launch himself to tip over a header from Connor O’Grady from Jay Glovers telling cross just moments later, before the resultant corner resulted in a bit of a scramble with Harrison Poulters goal bound shot being blocked by a vital challenge.

MATLOCK TOWN 1 - LEEK TOWN 0 HT

Blues manager Josh Brehaut made two changes at half time, withdrawing the ineffective Daniels and Weir with Nathan Okome and Joe Woolley their replacements. Unusually, midfielder Okome actually lined up as a striker with Woolley dropping in behind, but obviously Brehaut had decided some physicality was needed up front.

The move nearly reaped it’s reward within a minute of the restart as Okome forced an error and misplaced pass from the Matlock defence allowing Hurst to attack the Gladiators area. He was quickly closed down but succeeded in finding Okome to his right and his low cross into the area looking for Woolley was just cut out by a diving Ravenhill.

On 49 mins Harrison was again well positioned in the Leek defence to provide a vital block at the near post as the Gladiators forward three remained lively but the Blues quickly broke upfield and Porters long diagonal ball picked out the run of Hurst behind the defence. However, in trying to hold off the challenge from Matlocks Joshua Ashman the Blues striker was stumbling as he poked the ball past Ravenhill and only succeeded in finding the side netting.

But with two good moves in the first five minutes of the half the Blues had already achieved more than they had done in the entire first 45 and the signs were promising. It still took a set piece, however, for the Blues to find the equaliser as they won their first corner of the second half on 52mins. Porters delivery was met and flicked on by Harrison where Woolley had stolen in at the far post to prod home with Matlocks offside appeals falling on deaf ears.

A rejuvenated Leek were now on top and having their best spell of the game. Okome had clearly made a difference and was unlucky when set free on 63mins. The substitute advanced into the area and fired past Ravenhill only to see his shot come back off the post, hit the keeper, and rebound back just the wrong side of the post.

The Blues had an even better opportunity to go ahead after 71mins. Woolley was first to a loose ball on the half way line and with the Gladiators defence out of position he was able to slide the ball to Okome on the right and he immediately played a first time ball across to the unmarked Hurst who had a clear path to goal. However, he again took a heavy touch and instead of shooting chose to try and take the ball around Ravenhill but the goalkeeper had managed to close him down enough to smother the danger.

The momentum that Leek had built up was gradually ended as play then became very stop start with lots of niggly fouls committed by both sides although the Matlock players were prone in falling to the floor on every conceivable occasion they could.

The game entered the later stages and once again the Blues found themselves in a situation where the result could go either way decided either by a bit of quality or a mistake. On this occasion, fortunately for the Blues, the mistake came on the part of Matlock as Curl was found in the area and as he burst forward he was caught and upended by his opponent for a clear foul and penalty on 87mins.

Porter took responsibility for the spot kick and made no mistake sending Ravenhill the wrong way to cap the comeback and put Leek 2-1 in front.

Thereafter the Blues showed sensible game management to run down the clock and earn a morale boosting victory with the home side unable to muster any form of response.

MATLOCK TOWN 1 - LEEK TOWN 2 FT

Post match interview courtesy of Moorlands Sports Radio HERE

Match photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE

So six days rest now until the FA Cup game against Ashby Ivanhoe at the F Ball Community Stadium - match preview and tickets will be available soon.