Matlock Town began life after Adam Clayton with three points on Saturday as Theo Upton’s late goal saw off hosts Garforth Town.
With Clayton having been sacked two days previously, assistant manager Ryan Cresswell returned to the helm in temporary charge alongside his former Northampton Town team-mate Ricky Ravenhill – father of Matlock midfielder Liam.
And as the Gladiators continue their push to secure second place behind champions Redcar Athletic and with it home advantage in the play-offs, this was a welcome win that was accompanied by a late defeat for Emley who dropped to third as a result.
It was a match that failed to get much out of second gear but that saw Matlock enjoy plenty of possession, the Gladiators hitting the woodwork twice in the first-half and then plugging away in the second until the winner came with 11 minutes to go.
Ryan Viggars saw two early efforts go wide as Matlock began well, then Conor Washington was inches away when he cut inside and hit a left-footed shot which struck the inside of the post and rolled across goal before the ball was cleared.
Viggars again went close with a header before the woodwork was struck once again when a corner wasn’t cleared and Charlie Oglesby dug out a shot which keeper Harry Flatters got a touch to before the ball hit the crossbar and went out for another corner.
Matlock lost defender Josh Granite at half-time due to a facial injury but remained steadfast at the back through most of the second-half, Dec Eratt-Thompson letting fly from 25 yards on the hour mark but his effort clearing the angle of post and bar by a few inches.
The winner finally arrived 11 minutes from time. A long ball forward saw Washington control and hold the ball up well before feeding sub Tommy Elliott who had again made a difference since arriving on the pitch. He in turn saw the run of Upton into the penalty area and having been accurately fed, the 17-year-old ran on to hammer a low shot past Flatters and into the net.
Another sub, Jake Thompson, nearly added a second late on but saw his effort saved by Flatters, but it was the goalkeeper at the other end who would ultimately ensure the points went back to Matlock.
In the last of the four minutes of added time, a terrific diagonal pass from Owen Marshall split the defence and found Rinor Ejupi arriving at the far post but his low shot from six yards out was brilliantly blocked at point blank range by Declan Lambton and that would be that as Matlock held on to take the victory.
Matlock: Lambton, Eratt-Thompson, Macdonald, Bachirou, Granite © (Wiley 46), Oglesby, Upton, Ravenhill, Washington (Thompson 81), Wilson, Viggars (Elliott 60).
Not used: Milambo, Atherton
Att: 523
By Mark Duffy
