Match Preview: Matlock Town (A) - Pitching In Northern Premier League

FC United are back on the road tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Derbyshire to take on Matlock Town in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.

Team News

• Striker Jordan Buckley is expected to miss around a month of action after picking up a knock.

Opponent Overview – Matlock Town, The Gladiators

Manager Ryan Cresswell joined the club in September, guiding Matlock to their current league position of 12th , two points below FC United. The Gladiators have picked up maximum points from their last four league games at the Proctors Cars Stadium. Their last outing came on Tuesday night in a 1-1 draw away at Gainsborough Trinity.

Montel Gibson’s 11 goals this season leads the way for Matlock, getting on the scoresheet in the recent 2-1 home victory over Prescot Cables. 

Amongst the Gladiators’ midfield is former Leeds United and Middlesborough man, Adam Clayton, who joined the club in October 2024. Another former Premier League player who could feature for tomorrow’s hosts is ex-Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest striker Matt Derbyshire, who has made three appearances since joining the club last month.

FC United manager, Mark Beesley on Matlock Town: “We’re expecting a very tough game against them. They’ve got an excellent manager and we’re all very impressed by their setup. No doubt that we’ll have to be at our best to get a result.”

Previous Meetings

The first encounter between the two this season came in late September, when Adam Le Fondre’s 77th minute equaliser cancelled out Josh Smith’s first half opener in a 1-1 draw in Moston. 

FC United have an unwanted record when facing the Gladiators on the road; the Reds have only won once away at Matlock in 10 games, drawing three and losing six. The last time FC won at Causeway Lane was back in April 2011, when goals for Matthew Woolfenden and Jerome Wright secured a 2-1 win in the Evo-Stik Premier League.

Read: Match Report from FC United's 2-1 win at Causeway Lane in April 2011

Match Information

Venue: The Proctors Cars Stadium, Causeway Ln, Matlock DE4 3AR

Kick-Off: 3pm