Teversal 0-2 Matlock Town

Gerroff!!! Phil Mumby getting friendly with yours truly!!!

Our 2nd pre-season game and although these games are commonly described as "typical pre-season fayre", this one really was. Matlock started with a mix of first team players and trialists, while the Tevie team looked to have a majority of their first team. It all changed at the break with the teams making umpteen changes - so many in fact that they both ran out of numbered shirts!

The gateman was up to his old tricks again, bless him. Trying to sell me a badge - luckily I was wearing the one I purchased last season. He never gave up though, and when I went out of the ground to retrieve a ball that had flown over the fence, he said he was going to charge me to come in again... great stuff!! 

Oy..!! Cover it up please!!!

Matlock pressed hard from the off and played the ball around well, but it took them until the 26th minute to crack the stubborn home defence, JAMES KNOWLES hitting a hopeful long-range shot that the Tevie keeper got to, but couldn't quite tip over the bar. Seconds later the keeper was in action again, this time saving from a team-mate who had headed a Reuben Wiggins-Thomas cross powerfully at goal. On 40, the visitors thought they had doubled their lead when Hannah's excellent free-kick was headed home by Adam Yates. However, the eagle-eyed linesman was already flagging for off-side before the ball entered the net.

 

Yates head in but was offside...
                                                                                  

Cockerill sees his effort well saved

                                                                                                                                                                         








Dave Cockerill had a shot well saved by the Matlock keeper two minutes before the break, but apart from that Tevie offered little threat. H-T 0-1

Gladiators boss Mark Atkins kept his players on the pitch for their half-time team talk - very interesting to hear the former Blackburn Rovers man's words of wisdom. He was unhappy with the Matlock performance and made it plain that he thought it was just not good enough.

Atkins in action

Danny Wood was foiled by the home keeper three times in as many minutes as Matlock looked to improve on their first half showing, then ROSS HANNAH crashed home a stunning 25 yard free-kick 6 minutes into the second half to double the visitors lead. Both teams then made changes en-bloc and interest waned slightly as the game entered a stagnant period and both camera and note-pad were put away. F-T 0-2

 

Hannah's shot beat the keeper and the cameraman!

Strange weather - wind, rain, sun - but on the whole a good afternoon out, leaving us in anticipation of Monday night's game between Blidworth and Rainworth.

Admission : very reasonable £2

Attendance : 145

No programme or team sheet, but who cares?