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GLADIATORS DEFEATED BY THE LIONS

Writer's picture: Matthew RhodesMatthew Rhodes

Matlock Town slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Guiseley at Nethermoor Park on Tuesday evening in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. The loss meant that the Gladiators fell two places to seventh position in the NPL Premier Division league table.


A Reece Kendall own goal shortly before half-time and a 58th minute goal from Jake Cassidy cost Matlock Town dearly. Despite Alex Wiles's well-taken goal in the 63rd minute, Matlock couldn't find another to gain an away point despite a spirited attempt.



The hosts almost took the lead very early on in the game. Welsh striker Jake Cassidy fired a blistering effort on target from 12 yards out inside a crowded penalty area in the fourth minute of the game. However, Matlock goalkeeper Jim Pollard was more than equal to it and produced an excellent save to deny the Lions from taking a very early lead.


After some early pressure from the hosts, Matlock managed to find their feet and started to add some pressure of their own. Centre-half Ioan Evans should have at least hit the target in the 19th minute with a header following a perfect right-wing delivery from Alex Byrne. Byrne then came close to scoring a sensational goal seven minutes later. Irish forward Kallan Murphy did well to win an aerial battle with a Guiseley defender and his header allowed Byrne to move into a promising position. From 18 yards out, Byrne attempted an audacious chip over the Lions goalkeeper and came very close to being rewarded for his quick improvisation. The keeper backpedalled and was just able to tip the ball over the bar in the nick of time to concede a corner.


Matlock then came within inches of taking the lead in the 37th minute of the game. An excellent run down the right wing from full-back Kallum Mantack put him in a great position. From the by-line he delivered a pass along the ground but the ball somehow ran across the face of goal evading everyone in the penalty area. The ball must have missed Murphy's studs by inches as he dived towards the goal with the Lions goalkeeper in no man's land.


Guiseley were gifted the lead though just two minutes before half-time. Full-back Reece Kendall picked up a yellow card after fouling an opponent in a dangerous area on the right wing to concede a free-kick. From the resulting set-piece, Kendall sliced the ball over Jim Pollard's head and into his own net to gift-wrap the Lions the lead in a minute to forget for the player.









The Gladiators were far too lethargic in the opening 15 minutes of the second half and it was this period of the game that cost Craig Elliott's side. Guiseley deservedly extended their lead in the 58th minute when Jake Cassidy was allowed time and space to smartly guide the ball into the bottom corner from 15 yards out to make it 2-0.


To Matlock's credit, the visitors pulled a goal back just five minutes later to stay in contention. The ball ricocheted to midfielder Alex Wiles from 15 yards out and he calmly allowed the ball to drop down before firing in a shot that beat the keeper and hit the back of the net. This was Wiles's fifth goal of the season in what's been an excellent start to the campaign for the former Gainsborough Trinity midfielder.


Guiseley really should have regained their two goal cushion just 90 seconds later. Jim Pollard palmed away a stinging effort from inside the penalty area and the ball landed at Mohammad Qasim's feet with the goal at his mercy. Somehow, his close range shot smacked off the post in what was a huge let-off for the Gladiators.


Matlock battled well in the final 20 minutes in their search for an equaliser. Their best opportunity to level the game at 2-2 arrived in the 76th minute when Kallan Murphy's bullet header following a corner produced an excellent reflex save from Guiseley's goalkeeper. Murphy also had an opportunity in the first minute of stoppage-time but he disappointingly dragged his effort wide from the edge of the penalty area following a quick counter-attack.


The defeat marked another frustrating result away from home for the 2022/23 season. While Matlock are currently unbeaten at The Proctor Cars Stadium in the league this season, the Gladiators have lost four of their five away trips in the league. Next up for Matlock town is a home game against Lancaster City on Saturday in the NPL Premier Division where the Gladiators will be looking again to rebuild some momentum following an inconsistent start to the 2022/23 campaign.



Matlock Town team: Pollard, Mantack, Kendall, Evans, Qualter, Lees (Chippendale 83), Byrne, Njaria (Sharman 69), Murphy, Wiles, McHale (Tuton 69). Unused subs: Potts, Slew.


Attendance: 510



Craig Elliott Quotes:


"I thought we had large periods of the game where we were good. I felt we created a lot of chances and we defended well in those periods. I thought we were comfortable up to about the 40th minute. We lost the game because of how we played in the final five minutes of the first half and the first 15 minutes of the second half. We were sluggish and we invited pressure on. Guiseley capitalised on that. If you give teams a goal headstart, it becomes a difficult game. We've given away poor goals and we've got to do better with that. These goals are preventable."


"I thought we were really good in the final 20 minutes. I thought we were also in control for around 25 minutes of the first half. During those times, I thought we were the only team that looked like scoring. But goals change games. Every game I've had in charge so far, we've ended up being a goal down and we've got to deal with this better as they end up becoming difficult games for ourselves."


"Dom McHale had a bit of a back problem in the first half. He had some painkillers to try and relieve that. I don't think he showed his best version of himself tonight. He's definitely a talented player and I'm sure he'll show that in the next couple of games."


"I want to mould this team into what I like and what I want. That won't happen overnight - it will take time. We've got to be realistic about that."


"Tonight's game has been the one where I've learnt the most about this team. I think we've been pretty good in every game I've seen us so far. We've just let ourselves down in both boxes. Whether players here can improve in those areas or whether we need to bring new players in, time will tell."

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