MATLOCK Town were scuppered by three first half incidents as they attempted to erase the memory of last week's FA Cup exit when they faced Boston United at home in the UniBond Premier Division on Saturday.

The Pilgrims took the lead against the run of play in the 25th minute when Jon Rowan found the top corner.

Ollie Ryan added a second 15 minutes later.

But the real talking point came on the stroke of half time when Matlock striker Ross Hannah was red-carded for lashing out - and incident spotted by the assistant referee on the far side of the pitch, rather than the official closest to it.

Having lost the returning Jamie Jackson to injury at around the same time, a reshaped Gladiators struggled to make in-roads after the break and only Rowan's dreadful 89th minute miss spared them from a larger defeat.

Matlock travel to Hednesford Town on Tuesday (7.45pm), looking for their second away win of the season.