Last-gasp goal sends Gladiators tumbling in Trophy
MARK Beck broke Matlock Town hearts with a stoppage time winner for York City in the FA Trophy third round at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
The Gladiators had given as good as they got against the Vanarama National League North side and arguably had the better chances.
But the game had also lacked the necessary moments of quality and a penalty shoot-out was looming when York nicked the only goal.
“If we’d scored first we’d have probably won it,” said Matlock manager Paul Phillips.
“We needed to score first and we didn’t take our chances when we were on top.
“It can come back to bite you on the backside.
“I’m proud of our lads, though, against a full-time side.”
Matlock had the better of the first half and the first 15 minutes of the second but York got better as the game went on.
Headers from captain Sean Newton and Beck for York went wide early in the game before Matlock responded with a period of dominance.
Callum Chippendale knocked a chance narrowly wide before Matlock felt they should have had a penalty when Chippendale looked to be knocked from behind by Josh Brown.
Jesurun Uchegbulam’s pace bothered York but he delayed his shot too long after one promising run.
Ogden held soft shots from Beck and Mitch Hancox, while Hancox also shot yards wide from distance.
At the other end, Alex Wiles shot wide and the half ended goalless.
Wayward finishing was the also the theme in the second half, with Beck crowded out as he attempted to finish off a cross before former Matlock midfielder Kieran Wallace, on loan with York from Burton Albion after recovering from an ACL injury, shot off target.
Matlock sent on Ross Hannah and York the equally vastly-experienced Clayton Donaldson to try to find a breakthrough.
Ioan Evans then had Matlock’s best two chances, heading Byrne’s free kick tamely at keeper Peter Jameson after 68 minutes before, with four minutes left, another setpiece delivery from Alex Byrne saw him head wide.
Remy Longden cut in from the right for York but his shot swerved off target, then Josh King found the net for the visitors in the 87th minute, only to see an offside flag waving.
Hannah had a sniff of a chance in the 89th minute as he broke down the left but the ball would not drop kindly for him and Matlock had to be content with a corner.
Three minutes of additional time were signalled and, after a minute of those, York scored.
Scott Barrow swung a free kick into the danger area, Ogden came for the ball but slipped and Beck was left with a routine header.
At least there was the small consolation of defeat for leaders Buxton, against FC United of Manchester, and third-placed Bamber Bridge, against Gainsborough Trinity, in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
Those results see Matlock two points behind Buxton with the same number of games played, ahead of the A6 derby at the Proctor Cars Stadium on Monday, December 27, the pandemic permitting of course.
They are also two points ahead of Bamber Bridge with a game in hand.