KEEPS TOP OF PACK
DALE HOPSON’S second-half strike kept battling Whitby Town on top of the table, despite a tremendous assault from an impressive Matlock side, who are still very much part of the promotion picture.
Matlock have been one of the division’s form sides, with just one defeat all season, at Conference Altrincham, since September.
However, amid gale force winds, which threatened to spoil the game as a contest, the hosts threatened first.
On three minutes Mikey Roberts went clear on the left-edge of the box but fired across the face and wide.
Matlock’s impressive Niall McManus then cut in off the right and his curling effort forced Whitby keeper Shane Bland to fingertip the ball over the crossbar
Kieran Weledji and Hopson’s neat interplay on the right produced a cross from Weledji a ball across the six-yard box.
However, the ball somehow evaded attackers and defenders alike.
The second half was a much more lively affair.
Despite the hail and Yorkshire gloom, the Derbyshire visitors started strongly.
Curtis Morrison clipped a shot over from 20 yards, Michael Williams did likewise.
And a well-placed McManus was then denied a shot on goal by a brilliantly timed Mark Robinson slide tackle.
Phil Barnes had had a quiet afternoon in the Matlock goal .
But he was forced into decisive action on 53 minutes, saving fulllength to his left after Matty Tymon helped on Hopson's leftwing cross.
The tricky Ted Cribley forced Bland to tip over another 20-yard dipper.
And he then forced Bland to smother at his near post with a neat backheel from the resulting left-wing corner.
So it was very much against the run of play when Whitby broke the deadlock, just after the hour mark.
Dan McWilliams' left-wing cross was headed down by Tymon for Hopson to sidefoot into the bottom-right corner from six yards.
Matlock responded well. Marcus Dinanga turned wide and Williams came close again from distance.
The Blues were effectively playing on the break in the final quarter.
But they had a glorious opportunity to double their advantage with a three-on-two situation.
Unfortunately, McWilliams' unconvincing low shot was held by Barnes.
As the yellow hordes laid siege, Morrison should have equalised late on.
However, he he hit the post from point-blank range after a scramble in the Whitby box.