Match Preview Sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Saturday 20th November 2021
Venue: Craik Park, Morpeth Common, Morpeth, Northumberland
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
Morpeth will look to extend their good run of form when they entertain table toppers Matlock Town on Saturday.
History
Matlock Town sprung to prominence in the mid 1970’s to become one of the most successful sides in the country.
They were a bottom half of the table side in their early Northern Premier League years, having taken up an offer to join the league in the summer of 1969 after winning the Midland Counties League title in the preceding season.
Earlier they were Central Alliance Division North champions in 1959/60 and in 1960/61 which saw them join the Midland Counties League winning the title in their first season. Additionally, in 1959/60 they reached the First Round of the FA Cup losing at home to Crook Town in a replay.
Matlock won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1974/75 beating Scarborough 4-0 and create a record winning FA Trophy final winning margin. Three brothers, Tom, Mick and Nick Fenoughty were in the side, the only time that three brothers have featured in a cup final side at the stadium.
At the start of the season former England international Peter Swan had taken over as manager and brought about a fantastic attacking style to Matlock’s play. Success came earlier in the 1974/75 season with the Gladiators, as they are known, reaching the First Round of the FA Cup for only the second time, being beaten 4-1 at home by Blackburn Rovers . Two days after their Wembley win, Matlock beat Glossop 6-1 and 9-3 on aggregate to win the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
Tom Fenoughty replaced Swan at the start of the 1976/77 campaign, one which saw Matlock reach the Third Round of the FA Cup for the one and only time. Eventual Third Division Champions Mansfield Town were thrashed 5-2 at Field Mill in Round Two, the run coming to an end at Second Division Carlisle United. They narrowly missed out on the league title finishing in third spot behind Boston United and Northwich Victoria, but silverware came their way via the Derbyshire Senior Cup as they defeated New Mills in the final.
In 1977/78 Matlock beat Boston United 3-0 at Maine Road to lift the NPL Challenge Cup and qualify for the Anglo-Italian non league tournament in 1979. After losing 2-1 at both Chieti and Pisa in Italy, they beat Juniorcasale and Cremonese 2-0 in England, the Gladiators finishing as English runners-up to Sutton United.
The Gladiators’ best league campaign to date was in 1983/84 when they finished as runners up to Barrow. Their last FA Cup First Round appearance was in 1989/90 when they were beaten 4-1 at Scunthorpe United.
Matlock lost their Premier Division status at the end of the 1995/96 season after finishing bottom and it was not until 2003/04 that they regained their place in the top flight as they finished second behind Hyde United. In the following season they won the League Cup again beating Whitby Town in a two legged final.
Since then Matlock’s league form has been patchy, their best effort being a fifth placed finish in 2006/07, unfortunately they were defeated away at Witton Albion after extra time in the play off semi final. Wincham Park proved to be unlucky for Matlock in that season as Fleetwood Town beat them 1-0 to win the NPL Cup Final there.
Their most recent honours have been in the Derbyshire Senior Cup which they won in 2014/15 and 2016/2017, beating Gresley 7-0 and 5-0 in finals played at Chesterfield FC.
Matlock have one of the most picturesque grounds in the country, a setting which has improved immeasurably in recent seasons with a brand new stand containing changing rooms and a brand new Social Club being erected and ready for action in 2011.
Last Match
Morpeth comfortably beat Whitley Bay in the Northumberland Senior Cup at Craik Park on Tuesday evening. A brace from Andrew Johnson plus goals from Ben Ramsey and Jack Foalle were enough for the Highwaymen to move into the semi-finals.
The Gladiators advanced to the next round of the FA Trophy with a 4-0 success away at Rushall Olympic on Saturday. Goals from Liam Hughes, Ryan Qualter, Matt Sargent and Jesurun Uchegbulam sealed their passage.
