It’s always a pleasure to go to Causeway Lane in Matlock and when I saw that there was an intriguing F.A. Cup replay, I was there.

Matlock Town who had started the season poorly being 22nd and bottom of the Northern Premier League, Premier Division, with 2 points, and Manager less, having recently parted company with Nicky Laws, were playing Spalding United who were 21st, with 3 points, in the Southern League Premier Division Central, after both teams played out a goal less draw on Saturday. Both teams have an interesting F.A. Cup pedigree with Spalding having beaten Boston United 14.0 in 1964 and Matlock getting to the Third Round in the 1976/77 season, but those days are long ago for both teams.

Matlock’s ground is one of the most iconic in the country, next to where the town centre shops end and overlooked by the green and wooded Derbyshire hills. You can see the 19th century Riber Castle on the hill top behind one goal, which is now exclusive dwellings, and behind the other goal are some just finished flats, apartments, some of which have tremendous views of each game. Behind one side is Hall Leys Park and the river Derwent, backed by stunning green hills.

The pitch was lush green of well manicured grass. Down one side of the ground is a large seated covered stand, the other side has lower height seating and standing. Behind the apartment end goal is a covered standing area and behind the other goal an open cricket pitch. This felt like a real autumn evening with the floodlights on at the start to beat the setting sun, with dark clouds forming in what had been blue skies. With there being no wind the 15 degrees felt warm, but a jacket was needed.

There was no program, due to the short time available since the first match, but a team sheet was available in the club shop for 20p, although the lady was encouraging people to pay more to help club funds, well done. One point to note were the toilets which were the best I have been in anywhere for ages. Bright lights, spotlessly clean and with faux marble floors and walls.

I have written about the history of these two teams previously so down to the match.

Matlock Town 0 Spalding United 0

Matlock Town 0 Spalding United 1 After Extra Time

F.A. Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay. Tuesday 3rd September 19.45 pm kick off

Gladiators v Tulips.

Matlock; Royal Blue shirts, white shorts; Spalding , all red strip with black band on chest for sponsors name:

From the start there was no tippy tappy football but full blooded go for it down the wings with crosses into the centre. The home team looked the most promising from the start but Spalding came into it after that and had the best chances although a Matlock player headed just over on 24 minutes. Two minutes later the referee waved away a Matlock shout for a penalty.

Continual long recovery times by ‘fouled’ Spalding players led to all players wandering off the pitch on 34 minutes for a break.

With half time approaching Spalding’s goalkeeper, Josh Ezewele, made two fine saves to deny a goal and leave it at 0.0.

The second half became more frantic and both goalkeepers earned men of the match nominations with point blank saves. Spalding looked to be hanging on at the end of the game and with no one scoring the teams lined up for extra time.

Spalding’s changes made a difference and created spaces that hadn’t been there in the tight preceding 90 minutes. With 5 minutes gone Tyler Winters ran through on his own and Rogan Ravenhill diving at his feet could only upend him to concede a penalty. Tyler Winters stepped forward and hit the penalty to the left but Rogan Ravenhill, my man of the match, saved the shot but his parry was knocked into the net by Tyler Winter who was following up, for Spalding to take the lead after over 185 minutes of play between the two sides.

At ten o’clock the bells of a local churched tolled, it looked like they they were for Matlock when a few minutes later Tyler Winter hit a long shot which curled past the defence but hit the post and rebounded out.

In the second half of extra time Matlock pressed hard but didn’t create a clear chance. Spalding saw out the game and the 423 fans certainly had their moneys worth but the wrong result for the majority. Spalding were the happier as the game ended but on the nights performance Matlock have the basis to put up a fight to get off the bottom of the league and have players that a newly appointed manager can work with.

The chips were hot and tasty, golden, large, tasty, a big portion and were not oily. A good score of 70.