Marshall at the double as Matlock win again
A MARCUS Marshall brace plus a strike from Luke Hinsley gave Matlock Town an excellent 3-1 win after they had fallen behind early on to a Matty Tymon goal at Whitby Town.
The result keeps the Gladiators looking up the Evo-Stik Premier Division table, with only one defeat in their last 13 matches. In ninth, they are five points ahead of 10thplaced Hyde United.
Manager Dave Frecklington was forced into a change from last week’s win against Workington, with transfer-listed Jordan Chapell coming in for Jonathan Wafula, who was needed by parent club Boston United.
Whitby’s Adam McHugh was the first goalkeeper in action, grabbing a testing Marshall cross from the right, but the home side went ahead in the sixth minute when the wind put Matlock keeper Ross Durrant in two minds whether or not to come for a cross. He chose not to – to be fair, it was something of a lottery – and Tymon bundled the ball home.
Matlock responded positively, Hinsley having a low effort blocked by McHugh before a defender got in the way of another Hinsley effort after Adam Yates nodded on a long throw from the left.
The equaliser came in the 32nd minute, Marshall breaking at pace down the inside right channel and threading a cool finish past McHugh.
After that, Matlock dominted most of the rest of the game, although Durrant had to make a good save from Tymon just before half-time.
Dale Hopson shot wide from the edge of the box early in the second half before Hinsley held off his marker and delivered a testing cross which Toby Lees cut out at the expense of a corner, which Hinsley headed wide.
Hinsley was all smiles in the 68th minute when Alex White misjudged the flight of the ball and it reached the Matlock forward, who advanced quickly and shot past the exposed McHugh from 20 yards.
The Gladiators settled the contest 10 minutes from time when, receiving a throw-in on the right, Marshall cut in to stroke a low shot into the bottom corner.
Cleveland Taylor had two chances to embarrass the hosts further, both superbly and unselfishly created by substitute Craig Westcarr.
White blocked the first before Taylor shot wide but it could not detract from a fully deserved win.