Derbyshire Senior Cup Semi-Final
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 6th March 2007, 7.45pm
Teenage keeper Tom Allan was thrust into the limelight after making the long journey from South Wales to answer the call of manager Gary Norton.
Rovers had been denied permission from visitors Matlock Town to play recent signing keeper David Clarke as Tom Whittle had left the club and with the prospect of an outfield player going between the posts the call went out - and the young keeper responded and had a decent game.
Rovers had the first half chance on 3 minutes but Barry Woolley could only put his header wide from Tom Groves corner kick.
Allan's resolve was tested six minutes later when Kris Bowler's free kick from the right seemed to fly through the crowded area but the keeper made a good block with his foot.
Striker Paul Edwards did well on the half hour when he collected a free kick on the left of the area, turned his marker before unleashing a shot that flew across the face of the goal.
Matlock's goal came as a result of a slip by Colin Hoyle that prevented him from cutting out a through ball. Tom Cahill ran onto the ball and fired a shot across Allan who managed to get a hand on the ball but couldn't prevent the shot from creeping in at the far corner with the aid of the foot of the post.
Right on the stroke of half time the visitors almost doubled their advantage but Steve Warne's shot went the wrong side of the post.
Rovers had the first chance of the second half when Shaun Ridgway slung his cross into the area where unfortunately Edwards failed to connect with his head and Karl Brown waiting behind the striker also failed to get a touch.
Woolley should have got his side back on terms on 52 minutes when Ridgway picked him out with his free kick but the big defender put his header wide when well placed.
On 54 minutes Rovers had another chance when Edwards made a good run down the right and sent in a dangerous low cross that Brown again failed to capitalise on.
Three minutes later Ridgway had a shot on goal that Matlock's keeper Andy Richmond held but Rovers were to rue those misses because on 59 minutes Matlock scored their second.
Unfortunately Allan hurried his throw out and Paul Riley caught Ridgway in possession. His cross was flicked on by Ian Holmes to Cahill at the far post who had the easy task of knocking the ball into the empty net.
On 68 minutes Rovers almost pulled a goal back when Brown's free kick was only cleared as far as the edge of the area where Groves was waiting to strike a superb shot on the turn that beat Richmond but clipped the top of the bar.
Matlock made it three on 77 minutes when Glenn Kirkwood long high clearance found Cahill who raced through and slipped the ball past the onrushing Allan. The Rovers defence were furious suggesting the player was offside and Hoyle received a yellow card for his protestations.
The visitors went close on 86 minutes, but defender David McNicholas' header, from Warne's corner, crashed against the bar.
The goal of the game came with just two minutes remaining. Substitute Matt Millns' clearance found Groves, who hit a 30-yard volley on the turn which flew into the top corner leaving Richmond rooted to the spot.
In time added on Matlock scored their fourth when substitute Jake Pidock's shot went under the diving Allan and into the net.
Manager's View
"I was pleased with the performance. You look at it and think how can you say that you've lost the game four one but in the context of how things are at the moment I was very, very pleased with that tonight.
"I felt we worked very, very hard we showed a lot of commitment and Matlock know they've been in a game we caused them one or two problems.
"The first goal was an individual mistake. I think Colin (Hoyle) sliced the ball and their guy got in behind up to that point it had been a fairly even affair.
"Our young keeper Tommy Allen who has done quite well tonight still has a few things to learn such has his kicking and distribution. He tried an elaborate throw and Shaun Ridgway found himself quickly closed down - Matlock worked superbly hard off the ball - and sacked of the ball and they broke quickly and got the second goal. It was a shame because I felt we were still in the game up to that stage and then it was about Matlock's superior quality and certainly in the last ten minutes or so their fitness showed.
"They are a very, very good outfit and I felt that the only way we were going to try and compete in the game was by getting close to them. They gave us a lesson at Belper's place particularly in the first half but I don't think they had it their own way tonight. The score line might suggest otherwise but compared to the way we were Saturday it was a notable improvement and it's a little bemusing because every single player that played Saturday absolutely worked their socks off tonight.
"They closed people, they tackled, they got the second ball, they competed, they put their heads in where the feet were flying and that's the level of commitment we need as a minimum week in week out.
"That's what Matlock are getting week in week out from their players and that's why they are where they are and why we are where we are.
"Those supporters who were here tonight if they were here on Saturday will think if we are going to lose and we go down fighting like that they will go away thinking fair enough. But, if we go down like we did on Saturday then quite rightly we are going to have the finger pointed at us. That's my responsibility and I have to take that on the shoulder.
"We talked about the logistics of getting Tom back from Wales as he's working in Newport. We managed to get him picked up at his hotel and brought over to Gresley and now he's off back to Wales straight after the game so that'll he be ready for work first thing in the morning although he won't be back until the early hours.
"That was done so that we could put a recognised keeper out. He's 17 years old and Tom's done very well tonight. The effort to get him here was very commendable and saved us the farce of having to play an outfield player in goal and hopefully it may embarrass one or two people."
