MATLOCK TOWN 2, ASHTON UNITED 2
Matlock Town made a second half comeback from two goals down to grab a share of the points against Ashton United at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
The play off chasing Robins, whose point lifted them to second place in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier, dominated the first hour but a penalty award after 70 minutes turned the tide and led to the hosts rescuing a deserved draw.
The visitors, who restored Darius Osei in attack and recalled Dan Cowan to cover for the absent Josh Doherty, took just three minutes to move ahead as a right-wing throw-in saw James Hardy proceed along the by line before squeezing his effort in at the near post.
Sam Baird was then denied by a good save from keeper Adam Hayton from an offside position before Alex Byrne won a corner from Lucas Sant which resulted in Byrne failing to connect as the ball was recycled from the far post and Louis White’s left wing cross saw Charlie Oglesby’s deflection just clawed out by Hayton.
Four minutes after the restart a great pass from Byrne sent Luke Burke down the right wing and his cross saw Hardy just miss the far post on his left foot.
Just past the hour, Donald Chimalilo spread the play to Osei and when he worked his way along the byline his cross forced Sant to concede an own goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, a loose ball saw Liam Ravenhill caught by Baird at the cost of a penalty which Montel Gibson despatched down the middle past keeper Jordan Eastham.
Jack Stobbs’ right-wing cross then saw substitute Jake Thompson bring the best out of Eastham with a glancing header.
With the Gladiators now sensing something, Elliott Whitehouse won a corner from Cowan which was delivered to Jack Stobbs, one of four debutantes for the home side, who despatched the ball into the far corner having been awarded far too much space.
Adam Clayton’s lofted pass then saw Sean Newton concede a corner which ended with Jake Thompson shooting past the post with Ashton’s defence all at sea and a further scramble in the area ended with Gibson firing wide.
Ashton could have still grabbed the winner as a long clearance dropped to Mitchell Rose who blazed over and a quick break at the other end saw Cameron Wilson’s pass put Whitehouse into the area from where he fired wide.
Ashton United: Eastham, Effunuga, Cowan, Newton, Burke, Baird, Byrne (Chimalilo 52), White (Rose 65), Hardy, Osei, Rowe (Denton 90+2). Sub (unused): Gilchrist.
Attendance: 617.
Report: David Robinson.