Matlock Town 0-4 Bradford Park Avenue

In reality they came up against a very good side who had strength, professionalism and skill in abundance.

They will be hoping that they won't meet too many more sides like Bradford in what is going to be a tough league.

Matlock deserve credit for never throwing in the towel.

They had their fair share of chances, but on the flip side they were naive in defence as well and a team with the experience of Bradford will punish you severely for any error.

The Avenue had two big strong forwards who were full of running and decent in the air too.

So the Gladiators were perhaps rueing the absence of Ashley Foyle, missing due to personal reasons.

Certainly Matlock were found wanting defensively at key periods during the game, unlike the Bradford back line who, even at 3-0 up were throwing bodies in the way of goalbound shots, determined to keep a clean sheet.

Foyle was replaced by Simon Harrison who lined up in midfield with Liam King slotting in at right back and Ryan Davies moving across to a central defensive position.

Matlock's vulnerability in defence was exposed as early as the third minute when Davis misjudged a Stuart Graves cross and Stuart Rudd, a new recruit from FC United of Manchester should have buried his header rather than nod tamely past Andy Richmond's right hand post.

The hosts quickly responded and after a push in the back on Dene Cropper, Ross Hannah hoisted a free kick only inches off target.

A foul at the other end by Harrison on Rudd then saw former Alfreton winger Chris Bettney's curled effort pushed aside by Richmond.

Cropper tried his luck with a clever effort from fully thirty yards which was a couple of feet too high when Hannah's run was halted but Matlock were fortunate that Steve Warne was on the line to block a free Mark Haran header which bounced up into Richmond's arms following one of many right wing corners which were to petrify the Gladiators during the opening half.

A couple of penetrating runs from Jackson threatened danger to the Avenue.

Goalkeeper Jon Worsnop was at full stretch to collect a teasing cross from the first while the second centre fell behind but Avenue always looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

The goal came on 34 minutes when Bettney found STEVEN CONNORS with a square ball for the number eight to arrow a low strike into the corner with Richmond flat footed. Town had been punished for not closing him down effectively.

Two minutes later Connors came close to a second as poor marking from a corner saw him head goalwards, the ball striking first Richmond then the bar.

But Matlock had not learned their lesson as the visitors duly doubled their advantage from another flag kick on the right five minutes before the interval.

Defender CARL RUFFER was not picked up and an emphatic header did the rest.

Matlock badly needed a reply and following a sweet move Hannah teed up skipper Barraclough whose shot had venom but was straight at Worsnop.

They trooped off at half time two goals down but it might have been three as Rudd drove forward down the right and fired past the far post with the ever dangerous Chris Hall, an England C international, up alongside him.

To their credit the Gladiators emerged for the second half with renewed vigour and strangely might have been level by the 57th minute.

Just two minutes in Cropper was behind the Avenue defence on the right and might have shot at goal himself with Worsnop horribly out of position.

Jackson totally miskicked Cropper's cross and Barraclough tried to keep the move going but was eased off the ball by the might of the Avenue defence.

Then Cropper glanced a free header from a Harrison free kick wide.

It proved to be a costly miss as Avenue again immediately sped back upfield at pace and when Bettney beat Lee Featherstone on the right, HALL was on the end of his cross to net with a thumping, unstoppable header.

Now Matlock had to be wary of being on the end of a hammering but they showed character and Ryan Laight's header from a corner was hacked clear.

Rudd missed a couple of presentable chances at the other end, but the crowd sensed that Matlock were showing commendable spirit.

Harrison's well flighted free kick was brilliantly kept out by Worsnop who shortly afterwards pulled off a stunning save from Cropper.

As Jackson kept the move alive with a neat cross, Featherstone's volley struck a defender who although knowing little about it, was there, defending at all costs for his side. In between the pair of Worsnop stops, Danny Warner cleared off the line from Steve Warne.

Matlock deserved at least a couple of goals as Worsnop again denied Harrison but Bradford had the final say at the death.

Substitute MARK BETT cut in from the right and beat Richmond all ends up with a twenty two yard daisycutter.

So it's six points out of six for Avenue having started with the same 4-0 winning margin against Prescot Cables on Saturday.

They look a very good bet for honours but suspensions could work against them.

Every refereeing decision was contested, sometimes too vehemently, which led to Hall, Rudd and Tom Baker receiving cautions and their manager asked to leave the dug out. So much for the FA's respect campaign then!

Ryan Laight joined them in the notebook for a late challenge on Graves.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Davis, Featherstone, King, Laight, Harrison, Jackson, Warne, Cropper, Barraclough, Hannah. Subs-not used: Caudwell, Webster, Benger, Thorpe, Foster (g/k)

REFEREE: D K Benton (Sheffield) ATTENDANCE: 403
STAR MAN: Steve Warne