Emley suffered only the second league defeat of the season in the NPL Division One East when they were beaten 3-1 at home by an impressive Matlock Town.

Despite a late rally by Emley, the game was well out of our reach by the time we scored with 6 minutes remaining after a dominant performance by the visitors, relegated from the Premier Division last season, they were pre season favourites to go straight back up and not hard to see why.

Matlock were on the front foot from the off, forcing Emley back and stretching the Pewits' defence time and again with well worked moves and long, accurate diagonal balls especially to the left wing, where Harry Sheppeard battled admirably against the tide, Lambton was forced into a very early save too but inevitably, the visitors broke the deadlock.

Emley lost possession outside their own box and were punished, quick feet and movement saw De Girolamo stroke home giving Lambton no chance, Emley looked to hit back, after Mampala was thwarted, Isaac Baldwin saw the Pewits' first shot on goal flash wide after Town failed to properly clear a free kick.

Matlock then doubled their lead, once again, their free flowing football pulled Emley's defence apart and when the ball was played across goal from their left, Elliott, was there to tap in and give Emley a mountain to climb with less than a quarter of the game gone.

Despite Matlock's superiority, Emley managed to quell the tide for a period and contained them well whilst also looking to push on and impose themselves on the game, but the Gladiators almost struck another blow as another quick attack caught Emley out, thankfully though, Baldwin did enough to put the striker off who fired narrowly wide as a result. Another shot then went wide as Emley looked to cling on.

Matlock were playing some lovely football at times and Emley were forced to defend stoutly, which they did, Sheppeard and Baldwin working hard to try and close down any space out wide, Emley just couldn't get anything out of their visitors, when we finally did, a free kick on the right was floated in but no one but the Matlock keeper could get to it.

It should really have been 3-0 heading into half time as a period of dominance and pressure saw a shot cannon off the underside of the bar, many thought it was close to being over the line but the referee was unmoved by it, a tough half for Emley, although there was one moment to cheer when Lambton, closed down by the attacker, performed a cheeky move to leave the Gladiator on his backside.

H/T- Emley 0-2 Matlock Town

Matlock again started the second half on top and attacking on the front foot, after a shot was off target early on, Emley did well to clear a corner that followed, and then Lambton produced a fabulous diving save to his left to prevent a third Matlock goal.

Laurence Sorhaindo was replaced by Jaanai Gordon just past the hour as Emley sought any kind of way back into the game, unfortunately it wasn't to be as the visitors wrapped the game up with a simple third goal, a free kick on their right was floated in towards the back post and Oglesby had a free header which he buried into the corner.

It was, in effect, game over, Emley toiled but just couldn't break down a well marshalled defence, for now! Within a minute of Matlock's 3rd, Emley sniffed out a chance, Gordon did well to get an initial shot away which was blocked, Barks then saw a header from a Baldwin long throw cleared.

Joe Stacey was replaced by Kieron Ceesay and Archie Christie-Crainie gave way to Belchior Rodrigues and the fresh legs then seemed to work as Emley reduced the deficit, a nice through ball found Jaanai Gordon who slotted home his first goal for Emley, who then gave it everything to try and get another back and make it a nervy last few minutes for Matlock, who stood firm, Emley's last couple of chances saw shots from Lindley and Baldwin blocked.

A tough evening for Emley against a very good side in Matlock, we now look ahead to facing another side relegated last season as we make another long trip up to Blyth to face the Spartans on Saturday.

F/T- Emley 1- 3 Matlock Town

Attendance- 382

Emley- Lambton, Sheppeard, Baldwin, Lindley, Farrar, Barks, Stacey, Dawson[c], Sorhaindo, Mampala, Christie-Crainie:
Subs used- Gordon, B.Rodrigues, Ceesay;
Unused- Hardaker, Whittingham.

Goal- Gordon (84')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Harry Sheppeard.