Matlock 0
Harriers 2

UNDERSTRENGTH Harriers booked their place in the second round of the FA Trophy with a professional display in Derbyshire on Saturday.

Goals for Robbie Matthews and Chris McPhee finished off the plucky home side from the Unibond League.

Victory was impressive at Causeway Lane as the Aggborough outfit were missing five first-team regulars.

With midfielder David McDermott and keeper Dean Coleman laid low by a stomach flu, Martin Riley suspended and on-loan hitmen Damian Spencer and Ryan Charles not given permission by their parent clubs to play in Trophy, Harriers' squad as at full-stretch.

McPhee played in central defence, keeper Jasbir Singh made his first-team debut, Nathan Hayward started in midfield, while Aaron Farrell played up front with Robbie Matthews.

Despite the slew of changes, Harriers started well at Causeway Lane but found Mark Atkins' well-drilled Gladiators side hard to break down, even though they dominated the game.

Brian Smikle shot at keeper Aaron Jameson, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, but Harriers created few open scoring chances.

At the other end, Singh was having a quiet game with industrious Matlock not able to take advantage of a handful of free-kicks and corners.

Gareth Davies had the best chance late in the half but his free-kick, though well-hit, was high and wide.

Centreback Gavin Caines could have opened the scoring when Matlock failed to deal with Daniel Andrews' free-kick, but his first-time effort was blocked by the keeper and hit the post.

Harriers stepped up a gear in the second half, with Farrell's pace troubling the home defence.

Matlock's top scorer Ross Hannah was presented with a rare chance mid-way through the half when he spun away from the visiting defence, but Caines did well to recover and put in a block.

Matthews saw a good chance go to waste when he controlled Farrell's cross in the area but saw his shot sail just over the bar.

But he opened the scoring in the 74th minute after good work by the energetic Farrell.

The striker sped to the edge of the box and saw his way barred by three Matlock defenders but the ball broke to Matthews, who fired a firm low drive into the bottom corner.

The hosts pushed forward in search of a leveller and Mark Haran tested Singh's reflexes, while substitute Nathan Benger shot over an empty goal but a penalty in the 94th minute ensured Harriers' place in the second round.

Farrell was felled by defender James Lukic after he had rounded the Matlock keeper and McPhee slammed the spot-kick into Jameson's bottom right corner.

Harriers: Singh 7; Courtney 6; McPhee 6; Caines 7; Andrew 6; Hayward 6; Bennett 6; Smikle 6; Knights 6 (Dolman, 80); Farrell 8; Matthews 6 (Baker, 94).

Unused substitutes: Coleman; Hadley; Sharpe.

Matlock: Jameson; Yates; Featherstone; King; Sturdy; Lukic; Davies; Warne; Haran; Hannah; Algar (Benger, 77).

Unused substitutes: Brough; Cartwright; Wood; Buxton.

Referee: M Bristow. Attendance: 460