Stockton Town picked another crucial away win in a hard-fought battle against Matlock Town.
After the hosts struck within the first five minutes, goals from Josh Scott and two for Michael Sweet gave the Anchors a two-goal advantage before Montel Gibson’s penalty caused a nervy closure.
Michael Dunwell named an unchanged side from the one that beat Ilkeston Town on Tuesday night, with Glen Butterworth returning to the bench.
Matlock caught the Anchors off-guard four minutes into the game, when a low cross from the left hand side was finished by Elliott Whitehouse, immediately giving Stockton a harder test on a rough surface.
The hosts nearly found a second moments later, when Cameron Wilson was found in space a few yards out of goal but Nathan Harker did very well to make himself big and deny the winger.
After seeing a strike saved by Adam Hayton a few minutes beforehand, Josh Scott brought the Anchors level after he met a perfect Kevin Hayes cross with his head which left Hayton standing.
The Gladiators struck the post in the 29th minute when Jake Thompson had a look at goal from distance.
Six minutes before the break, the whole ground was expecting the ball to hit the net when a saved shot rebounded to the feet of Michael Sweet who had a look at an open goal, but out of nowhere flew Jeremie Milambo to miraculously block the effort.
Josh Scott caught the Matlock defence napping by bursting onto a ball through the middle, but he saw his left-footed effort was very well stopped by Hayton.
But in first-half stoppage time, the Anchors completed the turnaround when Josh Scott’s knock down fell nicely to Michael Sweet who buried a low shot into the bottom corner.
Half-time: Matlock Town 1-2 Stockton Town
Immediately after the restart, Stockton had a great chance to score a third when a quick counter attack ended up at the feet of Fenton John bursting towards the box, but his effort was held by the Matlock shot-stopper.
However, in the 53rd minute, Michael Dunwell’s side did find that important goal when a deep cross from Owen Gallacher was headed back across goal by Josh Baggs, allowing Michael Sweet to power home a volley for his second goal of the afternoon, and his 13th for the season.
After a quiet spell in the game, it livened up 15 minutes before the final whistle when Matlock were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the box, which saw the clinical Montel Gibson send Nathan Harker the wrong way to trim the deficit down to one goal.
Matlock pushed forward in the closing stages, but despite one minor opportunity following a corner, the Stockton backline held on very well to secure a massive three points in Derbyshire.
Full-time: Matlock Town 2-3 Stockton Town
The Anchors remain in 5th position with nine games remaining in their debut NPL Premier Division campaign, ahead of Basford United’s visit to the MAP Group UK Stadium next weekend.
Matlock Town: Hayton, Stobbs, Milambo (Tunstall 69’), Clayton, Smith, Oglesby, Thompson (Bachirou 55’), Ravenhill (Granite 55’), Gibson, Whitehouse, Wilson (Smart 73’)
Unused Subs: Wright
Stockton Town: Harker, Baggs, Gallacher, Painter, Purewal, Coulthard, Sweet (Thompson 73’, King, Scott (Fowler 68’), John (Butterworth 77’), Hayes
Unused Subs: Roberts, Leech
Goals: Whitehouse, 4 min, 1-0; Scott, 16 min, 1-1; Sweet, 45 min, 1-2; Sweet, 53 min, 1-3; Gibson (P), 76 min, 2-3
Attendance: 790
Words: Jordan Clarke
Photo: Harry Cook
