Joint boss Gareth Williams reckons that adversity often brings the best out in Matlock Town. That was a case in point on Tuesday night as unbeaten Guiseley came to Causeway Lane.

The omens didn't look good. Shorn of both of their usual two central defenders as Ryan Laight served a one match ban and Ashley Foyle remained on the injured list, they suffered a further blow barely two hours before kick off as Ryan Davis, who had been deputising for Foyle lately, was injured in an accident on the way to the game.

With striker Ross Hannah also missing, it was a case of assembling a side from the remaining squad members, with only one out and out defender, Lee Featherstone, occupying a back four place and even then he was out of position, partnering Liam King in the centre of the defence instead of in his usual left back berth.

Matty Thorpe and Matty Caudwell were the full backs with Nathan Benger and Simon Harrison in central midfield as Steve Warne was again asked to operate down the left flank., to start with at least. Gary Webster replaced Jamie Jackson on the right following the former Chesterfield winger's injury at Marine on Saturday. At least the two strikers felt at home with skipper Simon Barraclough lining up alongside big Dene Cropper.

The bench consisted once again of the joint bosses with Luke Federenko and reserve team players Shaun Pendleton, who himself was thrust into proceedings at half time after Nathan Benger turned an ankle, and Michael Norbury.

Home fans were understandably fearing a long and fruitless evening as the game got under way. They were in for a pleasant surprise.

Their patched up side more than matched the high flying Leeds side and they might even have won it. What could not be questioned was their commitment and they without doubt fully merited the unexpected point which came their way.

There were impressive performances all over the pitch from the men in blue. The green shirted Andy Richmond made some important stops at vital times when the Lions managed to force their way past the top notch pairing of Liam King and Lee Featherstone. Both full backs were switched on while Steve Warne was a colossus in midfield. Choosing a star man was terribly difficult but Cropper just sneaked it following a performance full of vigour and skill, capped by two tremendous goals. Pendleton also drew constant applause from an appreciative crowd for his tremendous workrate and economic use of the ball.

The Gladiators bright start brought them the reward of an 8th minute goal. Benger had already seen a cross from the left deflected behind following a sweet 5th minute move and when Thorpe's long raking pass saw Barraclough streak down the right, it needed the long leg of Danny Ellis to cut out the low cross intended for the onrushing Benger who would have had a clear pot at goal.

But the goal itself was a cracking finish by CROPPER. Perseverance saw Town regain possession as Guiseley tried to clear a corner and the 6'2" hit man thundered a marvellous rising shot into the roof of the net which gave goalkeeper Piotr Skiba no chance.

Five minutes later Barraclough spotted Skiba off his line and immediately sent a lob from inside the centre circle over the goalie but to the visitors immense relief, it drifted wide.

But within a further sixty seconds Guiseley were level. A fortunate ricochet midway in the Town half gave David Brown a clear route to goal but King's excellently timed interception brought a corner. ELLIS was not picked up as he was allowed a simple free header to take the sting out of Matlock's highly encouraging start.

For the next twenty minutes Guiseley got on top with Richmond holding a Steve Burton header at the back post after fine work by Brown on the left and then Sean Taylforth crossed from virtually the same position and former Ilkeston striker could only partly head and partly chest a weak effort towards Richmond. Then following what appeared to be a two footed tackle on Benger in the build up, Richmond pushed out a Steve Ovington effort who then after a penetrating break on the right fired a cross shot which curled narrowly past the back post.



But Matlock became stronger again towards the end of the half with Benger trying his luck from twenty five yards with a strike which dipped just too late and after a great run from Warne, Harrison's daisy cutter was pushed aside by Skiba at full stretch.

The Gladiators began the second half as they had the first and again they benefitted with Cropper's second goal of the evening. More or less straight away, Warne combined effectively with Pendleton, who immediately looked at home, to curl a cross from the left tantalisingly across the danger area and beyond the far post.

But the goal came on 47 minutes as CROPPER cracked in a vicious low 22 yard daisycutter which Skiba probably got the faintest of touches to, but in all honesty. he stood little chance of saving.

With his tail up, Cropper hit one from three yards further out which was safely gathered by Skiba who then rushed out to clear from Barraclough.

But Guiseley were back in the game again on 57 minutes and luck was most definitely on their side. Burton played the ball across the Gladiators penalty box after a corner was partially cleared and TAYLFORTH's shot would probably have gone wide until it hit a home defender to totally flummox Richmond and spin into the net. Ovington then had another similar effort but from further out and Richmond did exceptionally well to scramble across and tip the shot out for a corner.

There were no further goals but there was plenty of excitement as the crowd were kept on tenterhooks in a marvellous advertisement for the UniBond League.

The action switched swiftly from end to end with both Warne and Featherstone driving inches wide before Richmond twice superbly denied Muller.

With five minutes left Warne looked certain to regain Matlock's lead when set up by Barraclough's clever short pass, but somehow Skiba kept out the power packed drive which looked destined to rip into the net.

Then King produced the tackle of the night to stop Muller from Prodding home after the bounce fooled Richmond on the wet surface before the two final chances of a classic contest fell to Matlock.

Cropper got under a Webster cross to balloon yards over to be quickly followed by Harrison, whose quick turn ended with a low shot which beat Skiba but ran probably millimetres past his right hand post.

What a pity only 275 witnessed a truly great evening's entertainment. Those who came certainly had full value for money. Now for repeat performances in the forthcoming games. It showed what they are truly capable of.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, King, Featherstone, Thorpe, Benger (Pendleton 46), Harrison, Webster, Warne, Cropper, Barraclough, Caudwell. Other subs: Brown, Federenko, Norbury, Williams.

REFEREE: C Akers (Doncaster) ATTENDANCE: 275 STAR MAN: Dene Cropper.