Matlock recorded the double over a disjointed and dejected Mossley side with a comfortable 4-1 win at the Geoquip Stadium, following on from their 3-0 success at Seel Park in September.

Mossley began the game on the back foot as the home side made light of a tricky surface with some flowing football that had the Mossley defence in all sorts of problems.

Bowler had already hit the post for the home side and Danny Trueman had also been called into action before the Gladiators took the lead on 20 minutes when Ian Holmes went through on goal and slotted the ball past Trueman for his 14th goal of the season.
Mossley lost Gary Furnival who was feeling unwell and Christian Cooke replaced him.

Moments later Mossley made a tactical change as Joel Pilkington’s departure and Lee Shillito’s arrival marked a switch to 4-4-2 from a shaky looking 4-5-1 and the change brought about Mossley’s first spell of attacking in the game, but despite some good pressure the Lilywhites were unable to break through and trailed 1-0 at the interval.

Five minutes after the re-start Matlock got a second when a precise cross from Webster landed straight onto the boot of Kris Bowler who volleyed the ball past Trueman for an excellent goal.

Ten minutes later it seemed game on when Danny Meadowcroft went on a surging run and an excellent sequence of 1-2’s was finished off by Peter Wright who scored an excellent volleyed goal from 15 yards.

The game was beyond the visitors though after 71 minutes when Trueman came racing out of his area to try and clear from Tom Cahill but the ball went straight past him which let in Cahill for a simple tap in.

Substitute Simon Barraclough then made it four for the home side two minutes later when he turned home from close range.

Recent signing Neil Brisco was then very lucky to receive only a yellow card for a dreadful two footed lunge at Bowler that looked a certain red.

Mossley had been for the most part out-played, out fought and out-thought by the in form home side who did more than cement their play-off credentials.