Basford United 2
Matlock Town 1
Matlock Town fell to within a point of the Northern Premier Division relegation zone with a 2-1 loss at fellow strugglers Basford United.
A sloppy first half from the Gladiators was punished by goals from Theo Hudson and Revarnelle James to give the hosts a 2-0 half time lead.
As the game reached its final stages Montel Gibson's 13th goal of the season halved the deficit but it was too little too late for Ryan Cresswell's side who fell to a sixth game without a win.
Kick-Off
Basford have enjoyed some good form of late under new manager Willis Francis and it took just eight minutes for the Ambers to break the deadlock at Greenwich Avenue.
A dragged shot from Mansfield Town loanee Taylor Anderson went across the face of goal and was tapped in from six yards out by Hudson for his second goal of the week - he also scored against Nottingham Forest in the County Cup on Tuesday.
Matlock responded and a minute later Finlay Tunstall's cross picked out Gibson at the near post whose shot on the turn went wide.
Shortly after this the visitors did have the ball in the back of the Basford net when Fouad Bachirou converted after a Joshua Smith cross was parried into his path by Harvey Woodward, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the Ambers goalkeeper.
Just past the quarter of an hour mark Francis' side somehow failed to double their lead.
A deep cross from James was spilt by Adam Hayton, the ball dropped for Ethan Stewart but the centre back blasted the ball off target from a couple of yards out.
This miss was to be forgotten before half time though, as with four minutes left until the interval Basford doubled their lead.
Joshua Barnes spread play out to James on the left hand side and the 24-year-old cut inside and drilled in a shot from 20 yards that sneaked past Hayton and into the bottom corner. This being the former Tamworth winger's first goal of the campaign.
Less than a minute after this the Ambers thought they'd made it 3-0 but the assistant's flag came to Matlock's rescue.
Barnes released Hudson in behind and he confidently dispatched past Hayton but was controversially ruled offside.
In the first half the visitors had chances through Adam Clayton, Josh Ayres and Jake Thompson, but they all failed to really test Woodward.
Half Time: Basford United 2-0 Matlock Town
The second period was a lot quieter in Nottingham with an off target header from Brad Gascoigne against his former club the closest either side came to scoring.
However, in the final ten minutes Matlock increased the pressure in a bid for a late comeback and with six minutes remaining they got one back.
A Clayton corner was cleared by the first man but was hooked back into the penalty area by Tunstall. Fellow loanee Ayres flicked the ball onto Gibson at the back post he cut back onto his right foot and hit a shot that deflected into the far corner.
The 27-year-old then almost got a second within two minutes when he sent a strike from 30 yards whistling wide.
A minute from time Matlock's top scorer again had a go from range. This time his shot was on target and it was spilt by Woodward who reacted quickly to gather the loose ball and prevent a corner.
There were eight minutes of injury time added on, largely due to an injury to Matlock's Sam Essien, and four minutes into this a goalline clearance saved Basford.
A Gibson shot from 20 yards was fumbled by Woodward straight to Ayres who poked the ball past the 'keeper, only for Stewart to be on hand to clear off the line.
Nine minutes into injury time Gibson again had a go from distance, with Woodward tipping over for a corner.
Even the Gladiators' goalkeeper Hayton came up for the corner but it came to nothing, culminating in Tunstall sending a volley way over from the edge of the box to ensure Matlock would lose 2-1 at Basford for the second season in a row.
Full Time: Basford United 2-1 Matlock Town
Just a second win in the league since November for Basford maintains their 100% home record in all competitions under Francis, and moves the Ambers to within four points of safety.
As for Matlock they are now winless in six games and haven't won on their travels since November. The Gladiators now sit perilously close to the drop zone and face top six sides in their next four matches, starting with the visit of 3rd place Ashton United in midweek.
Basford United: Woodward, Williamson, Stewart, Adiefeh, Gascoigne, Barnes, Anderson, Sharpe, Hudson (Thornhill 85'), Goodman (Uveges 45'), James. Not Used: Brown, Hallam, Rose.
Goals: Hudson 8', James 41'
Yellow Cards: Williamson 39', Anderson 82'
Matlock Town: Hayton, Smith, Sant, Clayton, Granite, Oglesby, Thompson (Essien 56') (Zottos 64'), Bachirou, Gibson, Tunstall, Smart (Ayres 27'). Not Used: Wright.
Goals: Gibson 84'
Yellow Cards: Granite 52', Zottos 70'
ATT: 459
By Nathan Williams
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