Gladiators Retain Caroline Melbourne Trophy

There was a tinge of disappointment that the Nailers lost their final pre season game, but credit should go to the Gladiators who looked the better team on the night.

Lee Attenborough had all his players at his disposal except first choice ‘keeper Jonathan Hedge who was unavailable and Jay Rabone was drafted in as his replacement.

The game set off at a frenetic pace with both teams trying to get the measure of the other. It was the Gladiators who struck first after just 7 minutes after Rabone failed to deal with a cross from the right and the ball fell to former Nailers striker Johnny Margetts who hit a low shot under Rabone at his near post.

The Nailers often looked their most dangerous when Kevin Bastos had the ball and in the 14th minute he scared the Matlock defenders with a strong run into the box that was only snuffed out at the last moment.

Cameron Johnson was also effective for the Nailers and he followed Bastos’s example on 23 minutes but was able to produce an end product from his run although the shot didn’t trouble Deeney in the Matlock goal.

Archie White nearly provided another scoring opportunity for Margetts 2 minutes later when his shot was parried by Rabone, then the Gladiator’s striker volleyed wide.

The Nailers were struggling to keep the ball in midfield and the visitors were always capable of causing problems for Belper when they picked up misplaced passes. Matlock’s second goal arrived in the 28th minute when Reece Stych swept the ball home from just inside the penalty area.

Bastos wasn’t too far away from reducing the arrears with a shot just past the post in the 34th minute then Cameron Johnson’s powerful run saw his eventual shot go wide. White went very close to getting a third goal for the visitors when he drove the ball low to the far post, but the Nailers were saved by the woodwork.

After John Johnston struck an effort over the top on 49 minutes, the Nailers entered their best spell of the game and started to look threatening more often.

Bastos made another trademark run in the 56th minute but his shot flashed wide, then on 64 minutes Deeney rushed out of his goal to collect the ball without realising he had left the confines of his penalty area.

Deeney received a yellow card but more importantly Curtis Burrows swept the free kick home just inside the far post, and the comeback appeared to be well and truly on.

The Nailers continued to press but in doing so left themselves open to the Matlock counterattack, and they paid the price on 72 minutes when substitute Nat Crofts drilled the ball home from ten yards.

Bastos teased the Gladiators’ defence once again in the 80th but luck deserted him as his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Matlock held on comfortably enough until the final whistle whereupon they were presented with the Caroline Melbourne Trophy by Mark Melbourne.

Belper Town: Rabone, Martin, Rhodes (Mackie 74), Dunn (Warren 70), South, Watt (Algar 63) , Bastos, Burrows (Austin 83), Johnson C (Molyneaux 63), Troke (Bassadi 70), Cadman (Gregory 74).

Matlock Town: Deeney, McNicholas, West, Wright, Sharman (Crofts 66), Trialist, Johnston, Clark, Styche (Demidh 76), Margetts (Wakefield 76), White (Catt 77). Unused subs: Wright, Trialist GK

Referee: Harry Jones

Att: 484