Report: Witton Albion 1-3 Matlock Town

Witton had lost their previous seven league and cup matches, while Matlock’s run of defeats stood at five, so something had to give.

Joint interim boses Dave Rushbury and Martin Foster kept faith with the starting line up narrowly beaten at Grantham in midweek but Albion looked the more likely side early on and Alex Titchener went close after six minutes, firing over from the edge of the box after an intelligent lay off by Neil Harvey.

Matlock’s passing was below par in the opening exchanges making Witton’s job a gray deal easier and it looked bleak for the Gladiators when after conceding a free-kick some 30 yards from goal, they switched off allowing it to be taken quickly. Anthony Gardner made ground on the right to scoop in a high cross which Harvey nodded in from closed range.

Matlock had their first attempt on 16 minutes, a decent one at that as Jamie Yates drove inches too high from 22 yards.

But at this stage a second Albion goal looked more likely than a Matlock equaliser. Titchener planted a header straight at Jon Kennedy before Danny Andrews was on the end of a speedy break to see his effort deflected wide for a fruitless corner.

It was a surprise then when Matlock found their leveller. Centre half Zac Corbett’s unnecessary challenge on Danny Holland was punished as referee Dermott pointed to the spot for what looked to be a soft penalty, and Holland showed Corbett nor Witton no mercy as he confidently fired home.

The injured Phil Roe was replaced by Niall McManus at the break and McManus again went on to give a verity tidy performance.

Jamie Yates, playing his final game of his loan period before returning to North Ferriby drove a Holland cross too high before Witton enjoyed a mini spell of pressure which saw Kennedy hold a strike from Titchener and on his return to Witton, save excellently from Josh Hancock.

Witton needed to score when they were briefly on top in the second period, they didn’t and Matlock, lowest scorers in the league, went on to show them just how to do it.

Holland was unlucky on 69 minutes, latching on to Josh Meade’s pass to shoot narrowly past Daniel East’s right hand upright, but East’s and Witton’s respite would not last long, as Corey Gregory cut in from the left to curl a peach of a shot past the goalkeeper’s despairing dive and into the far corner and Matlock never looked back.

A deflated Witton conceded a free-kick when substitute Daniel O’Brien fouled McManus five yards outside the penalty area and Ashmore beat the wall with another fantastic hit to give Matlock a two-goal advantage which they never looked like relinquishing.

Matlock must now build on this second-half performance and victory with the aim of converting 45 minute shows into 90 minute extravaganzas.

It was just their second win of the season and they still remained second from bottom but in better heart for some tough games that lie ahead.

Saturday, October 11, 2014:

Witton: 1 Daniel East 2 Anthony Gardner 3 Cliff Moyo 4 Ben Harrison 5 Zac Corbett 6 Ross Davidson (Dan O’Brien 73) 7 Josh Hancock 8 Michael Powell (Jon Dawson 84) 9 Neil Harvey 10 Alex Titchener (Scott Bakkor 63) 11 Danny Andrews. Subs not used: Sam Barnes, Jamie Speare

Matlock: 1 Jon Kennedy 2 Josh Meade 3 Joe Leesley 4 Lawrence Gorman 5 Adam Yates 6 Oscar Radford 7 Corey Gregory 8 James Ashmore 9 Danny Holland (Lavell White 84) 10 Jamie Yates (Leon Osborne 67) 11 Phil Roe (Niall McManus 46).

Att: 327

Ref: P Dermott (Wigan)

Star Man: Corey Gregory

Report by Ian Richardson