Last-minute goal takes Gladiators to the top
IOAN Evans headed a dramatic stoppage-time decider as injury-hit Matlock Town went top of the Pitching In NPL Premier Division, beating FC United of Manchester 1-0.
It was a fitting climax to a gripping and intriguing game in which the visitors played their full part and will no doubt be reflecting that they deserved something from the contest.
The foul day kept an attendance that had looked likely to top four figures, given the following the Manchester side have, down to 903.
They saw a Gladiators side who just keep on going and their late pressure eventually paid dividends as their 100% home league record was maintained.
Matlock’s three midweek signings, Liam King, Arum Soleman and Tyreese Oyneka, all featured on the bench as injury ruled out Callum Chippendale, Jamie Cooke and Ross Hannah, who did reappear on the bench.
Jesurun Uchegbulam and Craig King came in for Chippendale and Cooke.
At the end of a terrific battle which could have gone either way, three minutes into added time, a superb cross from Alex Byrne saw Evans direct a looping header over diving keeper Adam Lavercumbe to signal wild celebrations.
Matlock are top merely on goals scored – and that by only one – after South Shields were held to a goalless draw by Nantwich Town.
Now the Gladiators are at home to Mickleover tomorrow night.
MICKLEOVER ended a run of three straight defeats with a battling 1-1 draw away to Scarborough Athletic and it might have been better as, after an even and entertaining goalless first half, they dominated the second period.
Scarborough keeper Ryan Whitley made a fine save to keep out a shot from Dec Bacon, James Butler had a shot deflected wide and a header brilliantly saved by Whitley, while Lee Holmes fizzed a shot just over the bar.
Sports finally scored in the 87th minute when Stuart Beavon laid the ball off for Holmes and the former Derby County winger curled in his first goal for the club from the edge of the box.
Scarborough were looking at a fourth straight home defeat but they were saved at the death when Mickleover keeper Callum Hawkins fumbled a lofted cross and Nathan Cartman knocked in the loose ball.
ILKESTON Town romped to an 8-0 win at home to Histon to climb to third in the NPL Midland Division.
Remaye Campbell started the rout after 14 minutes when he poked in Alex Troke’s cross from a yard.
Ollie Brown-Hill crossed from the left for Troke to pick his spot after 32 minutes and Zak Goodson cut in from the right to make it 3-0 five minutes later.
A Rhys Thorpe own goal, after a corner, made it four by half-time and the fifth, after 51 minutes was a Joe Maguire header from Charlie Wakefield’s free kick.
Next, Campbell and Troke each scored their second and the eighth came from substitute Paddy Webb with a tap-in.
BELPER Town made it three NPL Midland Division wins in a row without conceding a goal as they won 2-0 away to Soham Town Rangers.
The result did not look likely in the first half as Soham dominated with a string of dangerous crosses from winger Ben Seymour-Shove but the Nailers made it to the break with their goal intact, then took the lead four minutes into the second half, Alex Peterson deflecting in Brodie Litchfield’s drive.
Another Jonny Margetts goal, after 63 minutes, put them in control and the chances after that were all for Belper, with Margetts hitting the post from the closest of them.