What a difference three days make. From a stellar performance on Saturday, which saw league leaders Redcar outplayed by the Gladiators, to a cold, miserable night in the North East where it took Town 30 minutes to even get out of the starting blocks.
Matlock were barely recognisable to Saturday and had only themselves to blame. A ball carelessly given away in midfield on two minutes led to an equally needless corner being conceded. From it the Spartans’ Jeremy Perera, unmarked at the back post, slotted home.
In response, the Gladiators barely got going with the home side sensing an upset. They were quicker to the ball and stronger in the challenge and it seemed almost fortuitous that Matlock would equalise on 30 minutes when a throw in was latched on to by Ben Sault who just had time to round ‘keeper Callum Dobson and level the proceedings.
After the break Matlock grew into the game but without an end product. Substitute Conor Washington should have perhaps done better when one-on-one with Dobson but the home custodian parried Washington’s goal bound strike.
The Spartans then began to mount more attacks on the Matlock goal and on 76 minutes the banana skin was well and truly laid. The Gladiators failed to clear a Spartans attack and McClafferty cross-cum-shot looped over the head of Jake Oram.
Despite utilising Harlain Mbayo as an additional striker Matlock failed to seriously threaten to equalise until hitting the post on 88 minutes. Otherwise a dismal performance which received its just desserts.
A disappointing and frustrating evening in contrast to the euphoria of Saturday.
Blyth Spartans: Dobson, McClafferty, Dobinson, Evans, Wilson, Downey (Anderson), Gomez, Slocombe, Shodeinde (Dore), Perera, Potts (Maw).
Subs not used: Aungiers, Rudd.
Matlock Town: Oram, Eratt-Thompson, Milambo (Granite), Bachirou (Thompson), Mbayo, Oglesby, Clayton (Washington), Ravenhill, De Girolamo, Sault, C. Wilson.
Subs not used: Wiley, Boney.
(Photo: Paul Scott)
