Carlton Town vs Matlock Town

Matlock's switch to a back three at half-time unlocked the game. The tactical tweak freed up McLean to drift inside from the left, and he scored twice within four minutes (49', 53') to kill the contest. Ravenhill later confirmed the formation change was deliberate: "We had a little look at something different today and it's paid off."

Conor Washington (Matlock Town) — The experienced striker scored inside two minutes and added a second on the hour, leading the line with his trademark hold-up play. His movement caused problems for the Carlton defence throughout.

Ryan McLean (Matlock Town) — Two goals in four second-half minutes (49', 53') effectively sealed the win. Ravenhill praised his impact: "Any attacking player wants just the confidence of scoring goals. He's gone off to the left, cutting in, being a threat from the other side, and it's paid off for him."

Levi Andoh (Matlock Town) — The new signing made his unofficial debut at centre-back in the back three and impressed. Ravenhill said: "I thought he put in a good show. He's a strong defensive performance. He's also very good at playing forward too."

Perkins (Carlton Town) — The hosts' consolation goal in the 87th minute was a bright moment in an otherwise difficult afternoon for the Northern Premier League East side.

Matlock's four-goal haul came from just six shots on target across the 90 minutes, underlining their clinical edge — particularly in the second half when they scored three times in a 10-minute spell (49', 53', 59'). The switch to the back three after the interval gave Matlock greater attacking width, with McLean and Washington both profiting from the extra space. Carlton Town, playing a division below their visitors, struggled to create sustained pressure and managed only a late consolation.

For Matlock Town, this was a final pre-season workout before their NPL Premier Division opener at home to Dunston on 8 August. Ravenhill's side ended pre-season with a convincing win after a summer of experimentation with formations and trialists. Levi Andoh, signed on 23 July, made his first appearance and is expected to play a key role this season.

Carlton Town, preparing for the NPL Division One East campaign, will take positives from their second-half response but will need to tighten up defensively against a higher-ranked opponent. Their season opener is also scheduled for the second week of August.

A professional, efficient performance from Matlock Town against lower-division opposition. The Gladiators' second-half ruthlessness — three goals in 10 minutes — was the difference between a narrow lead and a comfortable win. Ravenhill's tactical flexibility (switching between a back three and back four) suggests a side that can adapt this season. For Carlton, the gap in quality between Step 3 and Step 4 was evident, but the fight to pull a goal back through Perkins was encouraging.