Robins out of FA Trophy

FA Trophy second qualifying round: Matlock Town 1-0 Ashton United

A first-half penalty for the hosts was enough to end Ashton's Wembley hopes at the Proctor Cars Stadium.

The pitch was somewhat bobbly following heavy rain and flooding in the local area.

Liam Tomsett's shot on the turn was blocked by Bailey Gooda with four minutes played, before Tomsett went round the advancing keeper Jon Stewart but his cross from a tight angle was cleared by Gooda.

Chris Rowney then headed John Lufudu's overlapping cross straight at Stewart and, at the other end, Marcus Marshall played in Luke Hinsley who was forced wide before his return ball was miscontrolled by Marshall.

The Gladiators then won a corner which saw Hinsley head right across goal before he failed to connect with Gooda’s flick-on from the return ball.

Nicky Clee then forced Stewart into a low save, with Tomsett firing the rebound over from close range.

At the other end, Hinsley cut inside of Jonathan Hunt and a combination of the Ashton captain and Lufudu saw a penalty awarded, as Hinsley went down. Spencer Harris converted confidently to give Matlock the lead. 

Dan Bramall’s shot from Hinsley’s lay-off was blocked at the start of the second half before Lufudu burst onto Rowney’s pass and shot just past the far post.

Sub Connor Hughes brought a decent save out of Stewart from Tomsett’s pass and Josh Wilson failed to connect properly from Sam Sheridan’s ball into the area.

Tomsett then made strides into the box and was denied by Stewart’s left hand and Jordan Slew’s dangerous left-wing cross was cleared by Ben Gordon from near the goalline, with Clee's attempt deflected narrowly wide with the home goal coming under siege.

The Robins’ final attempt to rescue a replay saw Wilson fouled just outside the area by Gooda and Sheridan’s free-kick well tipped away by Stewart.

Ashton United team: Worsnop, Lufudu, Clee, Havern, Hunt, Field (Sheridan 46), Walters (Hughes 55), Rowney, Wilson, Tomsett, Slew. Subs not used: Anghel, Banim, Woodford.

Image: Matlock Town FC