Wait goes on for Matlock Town but ex-Chesterfield and Sheffield United keeper signs
Matlock Town’s wait for a return to league action continued thanks to another postponement last weekend – but a new goalkeeper arrived on Monday to give fans something to cheer.
Last Saturday’s home game with Bridlington Town was the second in the space of seven days to fall victim to a waterlogged pitch at the Proctor Cars Stadium, meaning that it’s now nearly three weeks since the Gladiators played a league game – the only match since then having been the Derbyshire Senior Cup defeat at Glossop where only a handful of first team players appeared.
Matlock will therefore be hoping that this weekend’s trip to Pontefract Collieries will take place, as they take on a side they thrashed 7-1 at home back in September.
Boss Adam Clayton said: “It’s been frustrating not being able to play but we’ve tried to keep the lads fresh and have worked well in training so that we’re ready to hit the ground running when we do get back on the pitch.”
The new goalkeeper, meanwhile, is 23-year-old Dylan Wharton.
The 6ft 5in shot stopper came through the ranks at Chesterfield where he was involved with the first-team before they were compensated by Sheffield United and he made the move to Bramall Lane.
He was subsequently sent on loan to Gainsborough Trinity for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign before he made the move permanent the following summer. He went on to make a further 44 appearances for the Holy Blues, which included his heroic performance in the FA Cup clash against Hednesford Town, helping secure them a place in the FA Cup second round.
Wharton later made the move to Ilkeston Town in the summer, making the decision to move on after a short spell, and having been playing for Heanor Town in recent weeks he joins the Gladiators on a two-year-deal after rejecting offers from sides at higher levels.