1 | Danny Hurst tipped this free kick from Ben Kistall over the bar.
2 | The Matlock Massive in front of the 'Soon to be gone?' clubhouse.
3 | 'Caption Time' again as some trouble makers are warned to keep off the grass.

Fleetwood Town went into their third UniBond League Premier away fixture in ten days, having taken all six points at Marine and Whitby Town.  Matlock Town have gained three out of their last nine available points.  A home win over Eastwood Town was followed by two defeats on the road.

The Matlock mid-week fixture against Kendal Town was lost due to the wet weather. Fears about a repeat postponement for the Fleetwood visit were eased by improved conditions at the back-end of the week leading to a mild and dry Saturday afternoon.  Shaun Beeley passed a late fitness test before kick-off and was able to maintain his place at right back. Both teams required three points for different reasons.  After the midweek game between Gateshead and Witton Albion, Fleetwood were more concerned about keeping the pressure on the leaders as opposed to increasing the cushion against the morning’s third placed Gateshead. Matlock are keen to add to their points tally to maintain their mid-table status and avoid being sucked into the relegation area. 

Danny Hurst in the Fleetwood goal was called into action in the opening five minutes when a Matlock free kick needed tipping over the bar (above). Jamie Milligan, Alex Taylor and Nathan Pond quickly countered to take the game to Matlock with a good link-up move. Early pressure continued with Taylor being flagged for offside following a through ball from Milligan. Jez Fitzgerald and Kieran Walmsley created an opportunity, but a Matlock header cleared Taylor’s effort.  This set the pattern of the first half, with Fleetwood creating good build-up play from midfield only to see attempts on goal not materialise.  The home side also made a number of chances but lacked a finishing edge.  Hurst easily dealt with a long Matlock throw-in from the right, then on 20 minutes he was able to leave Matt Thorpe’s off-target shot to go easily past his right post   Nathan Pond then stepped up to clear a good cross from Ben Kistell.  Fleetwood were first to react shortly afterwards to a loose ball in their box after Stef Frost shot low and hard.  Fleetwood number three, Jez Fitzgerald, enjoyed a tidy first half up and down the left wing. His contribution was summed-up when he denied a threatening Matlock cross on 37 minutes. Shaun Beeley made a key tackle on Simon Barraclough a few yards outside his own box, only to be floored after winning the ball.  The half ended goalless with both keepers’ relatively unchallenged. 

The second-half was played-out in much the same way as the first 45 minutes.  Chances at both ends failed to be converted, with Hurst and home-keeper Richmond having a fairly quiet second period.  Phil Denny was brought on 10 minutes into the half to replace Andy Bell who didn’t manage to put away his chances in the first half. Denny immediately showed his presence with a well-aimed header ending up in Andy Richmond’s arms. Alex Taylor was replaced around the mid-way point.  He joined Milligan, Pond and Kieran Walmsley in a positive move into the last 10 minutes but the home defence cleared this attack. A Fleetwood back line that had dealt with the ongoing Matlock threat comfortably throughout the match absorbed the quick counter attack.  The drizzle in the final 10 minutes provided an apt ending to a game that didn’t really take-off. 

Fleetwood will consider seven points out of a possible nine away from home over the last ten days as a useful addition to their promotion-pushing campaign. Matlock will value their point and feel they put in a strong display.  It’s a statement of Fleetwood’s standing that teams such as Matlock Town and Marine have raised their game and put in what they consider good performances against the league’s second placed side.

Supporters and management alike were looking for a positive response from the Matlock players after the debacle at Ossett seven days earlier...and this is precisely what they got. An energetic, hard working, battling performance from Matlock very nearly gave them the three points which they would have deserved against their high flying second in the table opponents. And they produced some good football as well with Fleetwood being grateful that goalkeeper Danny Hurst was in top form with a hat-trick of tremendous saves to keep the hungry Gladiators at bay. Phil Brown and goalkeeping coach Ian Bowling had watched Fleetwood's recent game at Worksop, and reported that the Lancashire side were a slick passing side who would destroy teams if allowed time and space to perform. The homework done and the pre match preparation turned out to be spot on, with the result being even more creditable as the Gladiators management team sent out probably one of their most youthful line ups in recent history. Paul Riley moved back to left back as Ryan Davis was omitted from the back four, and Matlock played five across the midfield with Simon Barraclough the lone but dangerous attacker. Nathan Benger and Matthew Thorpe on his home debut were immense. Steve Circuit had to be content with a place on the bench alongside Steve Taylor and new signing Reuben Wiggins-Thomas, a midfielder signed from Eastwood Town on Friday. 

In a competitive start Fleetwood broke forward to win a 2nd minute corner which was efficiently dealt with by the Gladiators defence and Matlock soon replied with a pacy break forward as Stef Frost nearly found Ben Kistell in a shooting position deep inside the visitors penalty box, only for Shaun Gray to boot clear. But Matlock were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 6th minute when Kistell floated in a free kick from the left and Ryan Laight rose magnificently to flick in a power packed header which was superbly tipped over the bar by Hurst. Laight and skipper James Lukic were magnificent at the heart of the Gladiators defence. Lukic's excellent interception halted Alex Taylor after he had linked with co striker Andy Bell while on 24 minutes Laight's marvellous header at the expense of a corner prevented Alex Taylor from having a clear chance when Kieran Walmsley centred menacingly from the right. 

But it was Matlock mainly asking the questions with fans asking just why they could not have shown the same desire up at Ossett. Barraclough gave defenders Phil Robinson and Gray a torrid time and following a fine turn in the box on 13 minutes, his low cross flashed across goal when just a touch was required to find the target. Thorpe looks to be Matlock's best find at replacing Steve Warne. Full of running from box to box, he made room for himself on the edge of the area and although his finish lacked power and drifted wide, nevertheless his industry still drew applause from the rather sparse attendance.

But Matlock came within a lick of paint of going in front on 18 minutes and again Hurst was a major reason why the match was still scoreless. Barraclough slipped an intelligent ball to the advancing Frost whose low angled drive was clawed at full stretch on to the post by Hurst, the ball falling kindly for the Fleetwood defence who gratefully cleared their lines. The ball was in the visitors net two minutes later through Kistell but Mansfield official Mark Jones had already whistled for a foul on Thorpe. What a pity from the Gladiators viewpoint that he didn't delay his decision, especially as Kistell hoisted the free kick too high. Lukic planted a 34th minute header wide from a right wing corner as Matlock could consider themselves hard done by not to be in front.

Barraclough immediately caused problems for Robinson after the interval. The defender felled him on the left and Kistell whipped in the free kick which Hurst held at his near post after moving smartly across his goal. Robinson was trying to bully the tiny Barraclough out of the game and he could have no complaints about joining fellow compatriots Jerome Fitzgerald and Ashley Dunn in the book. The ball failed to run for Kistell in a foray down the left as Matlock maintained their momentum but they had to be wary of not conceding at the other end. Dunn flicked on a cross from full back Shaun Beeley which Richmond as ideally placed to gather and substitute Phil Denney nodded a Jamie Milligan cross at Richmond. A half chance went astray for Matlock on 67 minutes when Frost headed back a cross from Webster when probably an attempt at goal might have reaped more. A strange decision by Mr Jones when Lukic challenged Denney gave former Everton first teamer Milligan a chance to whip in a dangerous 72nd minute free kick but again Richmond was not unduly extended.

Matlock always looked the more likely victors and they made three sensible changes near the end to try and force a deserved win, which nearly came just a minute from the end But that man Hurst was again the Fleetwood saviour as Cameron Fearon released Barraclough down the right. His low cross drive would have nestled just inside the far upright if Hurst had not dived splendidly to his right to push the ball behind. It would have been a fitting finale for a Matlock team who in no small measure had regained the faith of their fans. There were great performances all over the park with several candidates for star rating. They played as a truly committed unit. Now of course, they need to repeat this level of performance on a consistent basis during the remaining weeks of the season.

Only Eastwood Town of the top six in the UniBond League Premier Division won on Saturday, but having won in midweek at Gateshead, leaders Witton Albion still finished the week eleven points clear of Fleetwood Town, who have three games in hand after being held to a goalless draw at Matlock Town. Alex Brown gave Witton a 62nd minute lead at Guiseley, who equalised deep into stoppage time through Lee Pugh.

Gateshead followed their midweek defeat with another on Saturday at Hednesford Town and as a result lost third place to Eastwood, who had a good week, beating Stamford 3-0 on Tuesday and then coming from 2-1 down with less than half-an-hour left to win 5-2 against Ashton United. At Keys Park, Mario Pedro, Wayne Dyer and Ross Dyer were on target for the Pitmen, with Wayne Phillips and a Kris Gate penalty in reply for the Tynesiders.

Chris Shaw gave Eastwood a 19th minute lead at Coronation Park, but by the time Lindon Meikle scored their second on 65 minutes, they were 2-1 down. Kris Matthews made it 3-2 less than 2 minutes later and a Matt Rhead brace on 75 and 80 minutes sealed the Badgers` win.

Of the bottom three both Lincoln United and Whitby Town picked up a point and it is all to play for in the relegation dog fight of all dog fights with Prescot Cables in tenth spot only five points clear of the drop zone! Lincoln shared a goalless encounter at Ashby Avenue against Frickley Athletic, while Whitby earned a useful 1-1 draw at Buxton, whose Neil Ross had the hosts in front from the spot after 14 minutes and boss Lee Nogan levelled 20 minutes from time. Cables, meanwhile, earned a 1-0 home win over another struggler, North Ferriby United, courtesy of a 62nd minute Eamonn Price effort.

Elsewhere, Kendal ended a bad week for Stamford, who were on the wrong end of a 4-0 drubbing, while bottom-markers Leek Town went down to a 2-1 defeat at Worksop Town, whose Kevin Sanasay bagged a brace to cancel out Wayne Johnson`s effort for the visitors, and Ossett Town and Ilkeston Town shared a 1-1 draw in which Chris Billy gave the hosts a 10th minute lead that Ross Gardner levelled on 62 minutes.
 

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08