It was a case of deja vu for Matlock Town on Saturday afternoon as they were held to their third goalless draw in row at home against fellow play-off contenders Morpeth Town.
In yet another unpredictable day in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, none of the top seven in the table at the start of the weekend won. This means that the Gladiators remain in third position in the table and sit six points ahead of sixth-placed Whitby Town with just four games remaining.
The first big opportunity of the game arrived in the 11th minute for the Highwaymen as Andrew Johnson's glancing header from a right wing delivery was steered narrowly wide of the post. In an almost carbon copy of this chance, Matlock's skipper Liam Hughes also saw his glancing header from inside the penalty area fall narrowly wide of the post just two minutes later.
Both teams had a big opportunity to break the deadlock in the 25th minute of the game. Some good work from Jesurun Uchegbulam on the left flank allowed him to approach the penalty area. He then teed up the incoming Terry Hawkridge who fired in a rapid effort on target but his shot was superbly blocked by a Morpeth defender. On the break, the Highwaymen spurned a golden opportunity when Ryan Donaldson blazed over the bar from only eight yards out.
The Gladiators ended the first half very strongly and are still probably trying to work out how they didn't score shortly before half-time. In the 42nd minute, Callum Chippendale's stretched effort from close range forced Morpeth goalkeeper Dan Lowson to smartly claw the ball away before diving onto the ball in the nick of time just before Alex Byrne could tuck in the rebound. With just a minute remaining of the first half, Callum Chippendale's stinging effort from 12 yards out forced an excellent save from Lowson to concede a corner. Byrne's superb delivery from the set piece found the head of Ryan Qualter in an insanely packed six yard area. Remarkably, his effort from only around three or four yards out cannoned off the underside of the bar before falling plumb on the goal line. After some desperate defending from Morpeth's back line and a brief game of pinball, the Highwaymen somehow managed to clear the ball away from danger to Matlock's sheer exasperation.
It was an eventful start to the second half. Just three minutes into the restart, a good cross from Uchegbulam on the right flank found Liam Hughes around the penalty spot but his hooked effort was straight at Lowson in goal. Morpeth then had an excellent opportunity to take the lead just two minutes afterwards when a through ball put Ben Ramsey in with a clear sight of goal. His first effort was well saved by Joe Young in between the sticks for Matlock before he then made an excellent diving block to deny Ramsey when he had a second bite of the cherry.
The best opportunity for the Gladiators in the second half fell in the 69th minute. Substitute Danny Greenfield teed up Liam Hughes to strike the ball from just over 12 yards out. The Gladiators captain opted for placement rather than power and, while his effort was placed on target in the bottom right corner, goalkeeper Dan Lowson made an excellent outstretched save to his left to keep the Highwaymen in the game.
The final 20 minutes of the game was a tense and cagey affair with both sides determined not to make a mistake to gift the opposition a late breakthrough. Matlock produced two last-ditch attempts in injury time. Uchegbulam cut inside his marker to fire in an effort from 20 yards out but his effort was steered well wide before Callum Chippendale attempted a long-range shot with seconds to spare but his effort was dragged well wide of the target.
With just four games remaining of the league season, Paul Phillips's men know that a play-off place is still within their hands despite their poor run of form.
Matlock Town team: Young, Yates, Kendall, Evans, Qualter, Lees, Byrne, Chippendale, Hughes (c), Hawkridge (Greenfield 65), Uchegbulam. Unused subs: Daly, Hannah, Sharman, Blakeley.
Attendance: 501
Paul Phillips Quotes
On whether he saw his team wanting to be prepared to get hurt and more physical in the final third - "100%. If we play like that for the last few games - you saw how many chances we created in the first half. I thought we'd scored a goal from Qualter when the ball landed a yard over the line. I've asked them all to throw their bodies over the line. I know I'm the quickest to criticise, sometimes a bit unjustly, but from everyone today, I thought we were outstanding against a good team. I thought we looked like the only team wanting to win the game in the second half. I'm happy with the point. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the key to the lock in the second half. Their keeper was their man of the match. I thought we looked the better team by far today."
"The defence was brilliant again. We defended from the front and we've now kept three clean sheets in a row. Obviously though, we've got to score more goals. I know that and I know there's frustration about which I agree with. But let's put a little perspective on it; there's no-one hurting more than me and the players in there. There's been one or two comments today after the game from fans that you've got to take on board - they pay their money to watch us. But when was the last time Matlock Town was involved in trying to win the league or to get into the play-offs? No team is entitled to be in this position. I don't think I could have asked for any more application or willingness from the team today."
"I thought Jesurun Uchegbulam and Liam Hughes were both brilliant today. Chippendale was outstanding in the first half. To a man, I thought all the players were really, really good. I thought we put them on the back foot and the only thing that was missing was that final piece of the jigsaw. There are about 16 teams in this league that would happily swap places with us. This is the first full season that we've all had together at Matlock Town and we're still building something. We'll get bigger, better and bolder. The negativity from some people here is astonishing. We've got to change that culture."
"All these people that are proclaiming that we're not doing well and that we're not doing this, that and the other - hopefully we can answer all those questions by the end of the season. If not, I will get it right here. I will make sure this football club progresses as it has done over the past 12 months."
"Liam Hughes is vital to this team. Players like Hughes and Qualter, give me those players all day long. We've got a good mix of players here. But Hughes was outstanding today, as was Qualter and Evans. Everyone put a right shift in and did the club proud today."
"I'm proud of what we've done so far. I'm still a little bit disappointed with games recently that we should have won. But that's football for you - it's a learning curve. This club has come on leaps and bounds in the past 12 months. We know what we've got to improve on but we've still come a hell of a long way. Let's embrace the players that have brought us to this position."
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