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Tuesday 27th March - Matlock Town  3-0  Frickley Athletic

The Blues produced an improved performance but went down  3-0 at Matlock Town this evening. After enjoying the better of the play the Blues went behind after 61 minutes to a tremendous 35 yard angled lob which gave Jon Hood no chance. Tom Cahill added a second on the break before Steve Taylor sealed the points. Lee Morris was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow card. 

Billy Heath made a couple of changes as he drafted in experienced midfielder Sean Baker who has been with Bridlington Town whilst striker Richard Medcalf from Beverley Town was on the bench. 

As early as the third minute Frickley had the hosts’ defence under pressure as Chris Hilton’s left wing cross was dropped by goalkeeper Andy Richmond when under pressure from Ashley Vickers but the ball fell kindly for Matlock and was cleared. Vickers cut in from the left and saw his 18 yard shot fly just wide of the left hand post after 16 minutes but two minutes later Matlock’s Mark Smith got the better of Steve Heath inside the box but Jon Hood did well to block his angled effort from 10 yards. Paul Palmer then received a throw in down the right and beat two men as he cut into the box but his shot from a tight angle hit the side netting. Minutes later Tom Cahill broke clear for Matlock but he shot weakly at Hood from 20 yards. Matlock came close in first half stoppage time when Barraclough sprinted clear after a long clearance and got to the ball before the onrushing Hood but his shot rolled just wide of the left hand post.

The game looked to have tipped in Frickley’s favour when Matlock’s Kriss Bowler was sent off after 55 minutes following a rash challenge on Steve Robinson but six minutes later the home side took the lead with a goal out of nothing. Ian Holmes won the ball some 35 yards out on the left and spotted Hood off his line so tried his luck with a dipping lob that dropped in the top right hand corner. Frickley responded with a period of pressure but following a Frickley corner in the 72^nd minute Matlock launched the ball up field for Cahill to chase with Hilton. Cahill clearly looked to have controlled the ball with his arm as he beat Hilton on the edge of the box but play was allowed to continue for Cahill to fire past Hood. Frickley continued to push forward but for all their pressure were struggling to carve out any clear cut chances. Lee Morris set up Danny Walsh in the 80^th minutes but his shot from 16 yards was charged down but another break saw Matlock strike again. Substitute Steve Taylor got the run of the ball following a challenge from Heath and he lashed in an angled shot past Hood from just inside the box. To make matters worse Morris was sent off in the 89^th minute after receiving a second yellow card for a late tackle.