Matlock Town vs Gresley Rovers
A scrappy goal decided a scrappy game at Causeway Lane last night – but Gresley Rovers weren't complaining.
David Holmes' 50th-minute strike, a firmly driven but seemingly inoffensive cross-shot that bobbled over Matlock keeper Richard Harrison's dive and into the net, gave the Moatmen an invaluable lead to take into Tuesday's Derbyshire Senior Cup final second leg at Gresley.
But if Rovers are to lift the trophy for the fifth time in seven seasons they will have to play more like they did in the second half last night than they did in the first.
Although they created chances in the opening 45 minutes Rovers rode their luck, their 4-3-3 formation allowing Matlock a territorial advantage in midfield that, fortunately for Steve Dolby's team, they failed to exploit.
Indeed the home side were so lacklustre that it took 16 minutes to summon up anything resembling an attempt on goal, Martin Hardy's 20-yard shot flying embarrassingly wide.
Rovers, for their own part, threatened but failed to deliver, Holmes almost capitalising on Graeme Rigg's through ball but, after showing up Hardy for pace, allowing the Matlock defender to get a last gasp tackle deep in the Gladiators penalty area.
Mark Hurst had a glimpse of goal when he charged down Harrison's clearance only to put the ball over the bar from the tightest of angles, then Stuart Evans was just short of Richard Denby's right wing free kick at the far post after Richard Wardle's impressive burst down the wing.
Matlock then proceeded to produce their best spell of the game, Gary Evans heading wide from Andy Tomlinson's free kick and Richard Taylor seeing a goalbound drive ushered to safety by Martin Dick.
Rovers almost went ahead when Mark Hurst held off a defender to reach Wardle's through ball but lofted his shot just over but their next attack Holmes provided the breakthrough.
Nick Stanborough relieved a period of Matlock pressure with a measured pass into the striker's path and when Rovers' No10 was allowed to run all the way to the edge of the Town area he surprised everyone – not least himself – by beating Harrison with a shot that should have been dealt with by a routine save.
The goal put Rovers in control but the nearest they came to adding to their lead was when Martin Dick's throw in was headed into Holmes' path by a defender only for Tomlinson to clear off the line from Ian Straw after the striker had pulled the ball back into his path just a couple of yards from the line.
Matlock staged a late rally but even the introduction of a mystery substitute – Bob Aston ushering the new arrival from the terraces, seemingly a home supporter imbued with too much good cheer, in the absence of stewards or police – could not do the trick for the Gladiators.
Their best effort was a searing drive from Nick Tilly in injury time that deflected over Aston's bar off a Matlock striker leaving Rovers in the driving seat – but still with work to do – in Tuesday's second leg.
Matlock Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorer: Holmes50
Matlock Town: Harrison, Tomlinson, Morris, Burton (Sheppard 86), Hardy, McNicholas, Tilly, Thompson, G Evans, Mullins, Taylor. Sub not used: McJannet.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Rigg, Denby, Evans, Stanborough, Wardle, Devaney, Hurst (Moore 68), Holmes, Straw. Sub not used: Elliott.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Nick Stanborough.
Referee: D Adcock (Long Eaton).
Attendance: 437
