Matlock Town................................2

Hannah 72, 80 (p)

Whitby Town..................................0

TWO late Ross Hannah strikes earned Matlock their important first victory of the season, but the game was put into its proper perspective before it had even kicked off.

The two sides, officials and supporters observed a minute’s silence to remember 17-year-old Gladiators midfielder Jack O’Dare, who was killed in a car accident last Monday.

Once the action got underway, it was the visitors who had the better of the early possession, but the Gladiators created the more clear-cut chances in what was a stop start game.

Danny Brunskill saw his shot well blocked by the excellent Ryan Laight before Jamie Jackson should have put the Gladiators ahead on 16 minutes.

In a speedy break Simon Barraclough released the ex-Chesterfield flanker who had a one-on-one with goalkeeper Ben Escritt, but the finish lacked pace and Escritt had an easy save.

Cropper was unlucky on 32 minutes as he found space in the penalty box and fired into the sidenetting before, two minutes later, the industrious Simon Harrison crossed dangerously and Cropper's header flashed narrowly wide.

Then from a left wing corner two minutes before the break, Lee Featherstone flicked against the base of the front post as a rather disappointing half came to a close.

The opening twenty minutes after the resumption were forgettable.

Cropper had the ball in the net on 53 minutes, but his header from a Hannah centre was chalked off for offside.

The game finally awoke from its slumber when Laight and Foyle got themselves in a tangle on 64 minutes and former Leeds midfielder Mark Tinkler spotted Richmond off his line and from fully 40 yards he lobbed goalwards only for his intelligent effort to dip slightly too late.

Richmond saved tremendously from both Charlton and Andy Burton, the second one being particularly special.

A swiftly taken free kick saw Burton hoist a great attempt towards the top corner, but Richmond flung himself acrobatically to his right to tip the ball out.

Then Hackworth found the outside of the post after a misunderstanding between Cropper and Barraclough deep in Whitby territory which saw the Seasiders break at pace.

But the Gladiators took hold of midfield as King and Harrison worked efficiently in tandem, with Webster's energy also significant.

Hannah was up alongside Cropper down the middle and Hannah showed his predatory instinct with a goal out of nothing on 72 minutes.

Lee Pallender was punished for a bad error, leaving the former Belper marksman with a clear run at goal.

He didn't disappoint with a calm finish beyond the exposed Escritt.

With ten minutes left, Hannah pounced again.

Substitute Nathan Benger flicked the ball through and once again Hannah had left the defence for dead.