Matlock Town Reserves 1-4 ECFC

Gave into temptation last night and gave Eastwood a 3rd chance, after this fixture being postponed 2 weeks ago and the Hucknall game being abandoned after 30 minutes on Saturday, I couldn’t miss having an opportunity to finally see what they can do. Matlock are coming into this season on the back of a well deserved 7th place finish last season, they beat new boys AFC Kilburn 4-1 in their first game of the season and will be hoping to push on this campaign.

I had been accompanied to the game by referees worst nightmare and some would say Cruyff turn enthusiast Aaron Ryan, we had been “delayed” in Hucknall so didnt arrive until 5 minutes into the game, I love the Matlock Ground big pitch, nice surface brilliant for footballing sides which these two can both be on their day, Eastwood were already ahead, BETTRIDGE giving them the lead, within the next 10 minutes it should have been 2,3,4. Eastwood were stronger, looked fitter appearing a class above their opponents. Letting them down was wild finishing, Jack Smith and Aaron Large both found themselves in good positions but showed no composure in front of goal wasting a fantastic chance to put their team in a commanding position. Matlock finally got a foothold in the game pushing Eastwood back, as on Saturday Eastwood let the game get stretched this played a major part in letting the opposition get on top resulting in them equalising although the goal had a hint of luck about it MATLOCK winning a free kick on the right hand side about 30 yards from goal a DEFINITE cross looped over Eastwood goalkeeper Jack Walker (Ronaldiniho - Seaman, 2002) the goalkeeper unable to move his feet quick enough very very lucky but Matlock slightly deserved it after an improvement in their game in the build up. The dynamic of the game then changed, much to the fury of the Eastwood management team, Matlock seemed to have runners from everywhere finding space at will, they themselves could have been up at the break if more clinical.

HT 1 -1

When the sides came back out after the break Eastwood had made a change Jack James unluckily being replaced by Joe Butler but it showed a real attacking intent from Eastwood which I loved, I have been a teammate of Joe at Linby and briefly Arnold he definitely has the attributes to be a handful at this level. The change immediately paid off with Butler stretching the Matlock defence, this allowed Jack SMITH to find half a yard his shot screamed into the net via a deflection, it signalled the beginning of the end for Matlock they completely capitulated, Eastwood showing their strength bringing on Paddy Webb who managed 28 goals in 29 games in this division last season and he looked like a man on a mission. Involved straight away his low drive was turned into the net by BETTRIDGE. Within seconds of the restart WEBB was in 1 on 1, he coolly finished off the scoring for the evening making the scoreline look a little more comfortable than it was at times. Matlock did continue to try and play their way through the match getting the ball down on the floor ,which is commendable, but lacked any real cutting edge with them being restricted to long range efforts. A Matlock winger then took it upon himself to be a complete and utter idiot, aiming an elbow at an Eastwood defender, a reckless act resulting in a red card, a coward move which showed as he walked off the pitch smirking.

Matlock will probably try and finish as high in the best of the rest and their passing, football at all costs philosophy will see them into a comfortable position in this league. Eastwood will have bigger tests than this for sure, but job done not the prettiest but 3 points!

MVP - BETTRIDGE

2 Goals - 3 positons, played well in all.

LVP - MATLOCK WINGER

Immature act and response.

ECFC Team:

1 Jack Walker
2 Greg Conn
3 Aaron Short (C)
4 Jack James
5 Billy Brooks
6 Danny Hayes
7 Rory Smith
8 Rian Charles
9 Chay Bettridge
10 Jack Smith
11 Aaron Large

12 Joe Butler
14 Michael Pearson
15 Paddy Webb
16 Ruban Mitchell
17 Kyle McDermott

Attendance: 66

Man Of The Match: Chay Bettridge

Game of Throw Inns;
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