Jameel Ible’s early goal was the difference in a game of few chances played on a cold Valentine’s Day night at Matlock, writes Adam Bridson.
Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic but the Lions showed no affects of their late arrival.
Ible made his early chance count when Matlock keeper Saul Deeney dropped George Smith’s cross for the number five to power the ball in after just two minutes.
It proved to be the visitors’ best opening in a 45 minutes which both sides largely cancelled each other out.
The next chance came after 29 minutes when Smith found Kallan Murphy from a corner but the forward couldn’t find the target with his header.
Matlock had a glorious opportunity five minutes later when two former Lions combined, John Johnston’s free kick found Adam Yates but he volleyed well over the bar.
It was the last chance of the opening 45 but the second half got off to a fast start when former Matlock man Callum Chippendale shot from 20 yards out, his effort trickled past Deeney’s post with the home keeper watching on.
It was a false dawn as the second half saw the game continue in a scrappy, stop, start manner but Paul Phillips’ team were happy to reduce the hosts to half chances.
Lewis Whitham, who once again caused the opposition defenders a whole host of problems, nearly assisted the Lions’ second goal of the night from a free kick. He looked to have found Chippendale but Yates rushed in at the last second to clear over his own crossbar.
Matlock winger Alexander Duhameau came closest for his side with a cross which flashed across the face of Cam Mason’s goal, had a home attacker been in the box he would have had a certain goal.
It was a rare moment of danger from the hosts as the Lions saw out five minutes of added time to earn a big three points. Next up for Paul Phillips’ men is a trip to Warrington Town on Saturday.
Matlock Town 0-1 Guiseley | Tuesday 14th February 2023 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 451
Team: 1. Cam Mason, 2. Kwame Boateng, 3. George Smith (C), 4. Ross Daly, 5. Jameel Ible, 6. Leigh Whelan (75’ Moulden) (90’ Harris), 7. Lewis Whitham, 8. Callum Chippendale, 9. Kallan Murphy, 10. Adam Haw (50’ Abadaki) and 11. Courtney Mappen-Walters.
Subs: 12. Spencer Harris, 14. Alfie Moulden, 15. Ekow Coker, 16. Shane Smeltz and 17. Osebi Abadaki.