Matlock Town 0-1 Chesterfield

Lloyd Kerry tucked away the loose ball after Andy Richmond had dived full length to keep out a Jack Lester strike on 35 minutes to keep the Banner Jones Cup at Saltergate.

But Matlock emerged from the game with a lot of credit as they harried their League Two neighbours into errors with a display full of energy and purpose.

There seems to be no shortage of passion and purpose about their play at present.

Ashley Foyle made his first appearance alongside Ryan Laight in central defence while Simon Harrison, who put pen to paper after the game, partnered former Rotherham colleague Liam King in central midfield with Steve Warne on the left.

Ross Hannah started on the bench with Dene Cropper and skipper Simon Barraclough in attack.

Matlock immediately had Chesterfield on the back foot and might have shocked them after just five minutes as Barraclough and Warne linked brilliantly on the left for the latter to drive fiercely beyond the far post.

Four minutes later midfield dynamo King surged into the box to force Scott Flinders into a sprawling save low to his right.

Chesterfield retaliated through Kerry who saw Richmond beat away his shot and Jamie Ward screwed his follow up effort across goal and wide, but King and Harrison fashioned a decent opportunity for Cropper who guided his 18 yarder a foot wide of Flinders right hand upright.

Cropper was a handful for the Spireites central defensive duo of Robert Page and Kevin Austin with a succession of free kicks being awarded in the Gladiators striker's favour.

King and Harrison were eager beavers, harrassing the Spireites into errors.

Matlock were constantly in Chesterfield's faces showing tremendous industry and they defended stoutly with Ryan Laight outstanding. But the pressure was building and Kerry eventually made the breakthrough.

Lester, kept quiet for the most part, volleyed at Richmond from distance but Matlock might have equalised when King's header from a Barraclough cross on the left after more good work by Warne, drifted agonisingly wide.

An uncharacteristic slip by Laight forced Richmond swiftly off his line to close down Ward and Kerry, a livewire for the visitors, didn't hesitate to try his luck from 40 yards with the goal completely open. Fortunately for Laight and the hosts, Kerry's attempt lacked the required direction.

Hannah replaced Cropper at the interval and was close to a dream start seconds after Richmond had dived low to his left to claw away a 25-yarder from Phil Picken.

The ex Belper man burst through at pace beating both Gregor Robertson and Flinders, but Ben Algar was quickly in to save the day.

Flinders pushed out Barraclough's low shot after yet another fine interchange with Warne,

Jamie Jackson, one of a clutch of Gladiators intent on impressing their old employers, instigated a delightful move with a deft flick which sent Matt Thorpe scampering clear on the right.

His cross was a good one which Luke Federenko could not quite convert.

Lester, who had a trial at Causeway Lane when Ron Reid was the Gladiators' manager back in 1992, but opted to join Grimsby, at last showed his mettle, creating a shooting opportunity which ended with Richmond comfortably plucking the ball out of the air.

Kerry went close from thirty yards while Darren Currie, newly arrived from Luton Town,sprayed a wonderful crossfield pass out to Lester, only for the Spireites hit man to lob at Richmond.

That was the last opportunity of a sporting game well refereed by Rob Shoebridge.

Chesterfield look as if they still have a lot of work to do to challenge this season while if Matlock can show the same level of commitment and flair when the real stuff starts, they could spring a surprise or two.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Davis, Featherstone (Federenko 62), King (Thorpe 62), Laight, Foyle (Fearon 46), Webster (Wiggins-Thomas 58), Warne (Benger 78), Cropper (Hannah 46), Barraclough (Jackson 58), Harrison.

CHESTERFIELD: Flinders, Picken, Austin, Hall, Page, Algar, Ward, Kerry, Lester, Currie, Harsley. Subs: Whatsize (gk), Robertson, Boden, Winter, Gray, Tedrossi, Smith.

REFEREE: R Shoebridge (Heage) ATTENDANCE: 1083 STAR MAN: Steve Warne.