Clayton delighted as Matlock put seven past Newton Aycliffe
Matlock Town boss Adam Clayton praised his side’s ruthlessness as they ran riot at home to Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday night.
The Gladiators won 7-2 against a side who had to play the second-half with ten men, Matlock also missing a penalty as well as a host of other chances.
But Clayton said the response to the 4-0 defeat at home to Emley ten days previously was just what was required as his side continue their push for at least a second-place finish given runaway leaders Redcar’s continued good form.
He said: “We’d had a long wait after a tough loss so it’s not been a nice eight or nine days but again, we wanted a reaction and the lads have reacted from the first whistle.
"I never felt in trouble and we performed well, although despite winning 7-2 the disappointing thing is that we didn’t score more, which sounds strange but these are the standards I want to put into the lads.
"Coming here is tough as we have a good team and if you give us a lead we can really kick on. We got the goals at good times and although I’m really disappointed with the two we conceded, it was a great night’s work.”
Matlock led inside seven minutes thanks to Conor Washington’s low finish, Washington then the provider on 14 as he squared for young Blackpool loanee Theo Upton to net from close range.
Cameron Wilson saw a penalty saved before making amends with the third goal just after the half-hour mark, before David Clarkson reduced the arrears from close range in what was a rare Newton Aycliffe attack.
The fourth goal came right on half-time as defender Callum Luck was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity hauling down Rio Canoville following a set piece and as the Matlock man was about to shoot, Washington this time taking the penalty and finding the net.
Upton’s low finish made it five after the break and the then completed his hat-trick after Newton Aycliffe goalkeeper Kyle Seymour gifted him possession on the edge of the penalty area.
The visitors netted the third penalty of the game through sub Daniel Davy for a consolation before Matlock skipper Liam Ravenhill pounced on another defensive error to run through and finish well for the final goal of the evening.
Matlock now prepare to head north to take on bottom-of-the-table Blyth Town on Saturday, with Clayton adding: “We take nothing for granted as we lost to Blyth Spartans up there earlier in the season when they were bottom and after we’d just beaten Redcar, so we have to go there and do a professional job.”