Matlock Town 2

Northwich Victoria 0

FA Umbro Trophy Round Three

Saturday, January 13

HAVING cleared their FA cup calendar just before Christmas, Northwich Vics wasted little time in disposing of the distraction of the FA Trophy.

Matlock, living up to their nick name of the Gladiators killed them off with two first half goals, much in the same way as Runcorn did in Vics' first hurdle failure last season.

So it's now two years in succession Northwich have succumbed to opposition from the UniBond League, only on this occasion it was to a team two divisions below them. Now they know how Bury must have felt.

Vics might have anticipated it was not going to be their day when the team coach broke down en route leaving players reliant on lifts from passing supporters and club officials and ensuring the start of the game was delayed by 15 minutes. Hardly an ideal return to Derbyshire for manager Keith Alexander, once of Ilkeston.

Nevertheless it was Vics who started the brighter when Ian Robinson first had a shot blocked and then headed narrowly wide from a Mark Barnard cross.

However Matlock posted notice of their intentions when a Will Davies header forced Key to save at the foot of the post, and in the 13th minute they took the lead.

Nick Tilley latched onto a weak clearance by John Robertson and fed Paul Kingsley who slipped the ball for Andy Simpson to shoot crisply into the bottom corner.

Moments later Robertson lost control at his feet allowing Steve Taylor a clear run at goal but Key saved his effort with his legs before rescuing another one-on-one situation with Kingsley.

Little was being seen of the Vics attack and it was left to centre back Robertson to pose a threat when he charged down the right and hit the ball hard and low into the danger area but Kevin Tyre smothered the cross before the Vics forwards could respond

Key had to make another save with his legs after Kingsley had beaten two defenders, while Vics had a chance so far in the 29th minute when Tyre's legs denied Richard Mitchell.

But Matlock continued in full flow and got their second in the 32nd minute when Steve Davis was adjudged to have fouled Taylor on the right hand side of the box and Mark Shaw gave Key no chance from the resulting penalty.

Minutes later Taylor yet again outpaced a static Vics defence but with only Key to beat he shot harmlessly wide. Kingsley then made yet another speedy run down the left and cut into the box, but scuffed his shot. It was one-way traffic.

A long range shot by Devlin was the only response as the referee blew for half-time with Vics counting themselves lucky to not be trailing by a much higher margin.

With the game slipping beyond their reach, Alexander opted for a more adventurous 4-3-3 formation at the start of the second half, replacing defender Gary Burke with striker Gary Fletcher.

But only a monumental piece of luck kept Vics' hopes alive when, in the 54th minute, Wes Simpson's header beat his own keeper and hit the inside of the post before somehow rebounding into the arms of Key.

Vics then upped the ante by going for a 4-2-4 formation, replacing midfielder Robinson with striker Aiden Newhouse, but it was all too little too late.

Deep into injury-time Fletcher hit the bar but by then all was lost and Vics, who had themselves been giant killers not so long ago, were now the victims.

Vics: Key, Bailey, Barnard, Davis, Robertson, Burke (Fletcher 45), Henry, Robinson Newhouse 59), Mitchell (Holcroft 68), Mike, Devlin. Subs not used: Rigby, Bates.

Att: 784. Man of the Match: Lance Key.