The Gladiators started the match in confident style, showing little sign of nerves, as they moved the ball about and during the second half, the ecstatic crowd were chanting ‘easy, easy, easy,’ as Matlock sent illustrious Scarborough reeling with a grand-slamknock-out punch which finally wrapped up the game in 12 history-ridden minutes.

The game though was never easy — and never anything but a tough uncompromising battle until those three goals between the 70th and 82nd minute, eventually shattered Scarborough’s hopes of staging a dramatic come-back to level a slender lead Matlock had held since the 17th minute.
This was a cup final in the very best Wembley tradition; tense, pulsating and always vibrantly alive and ready to boil up, as it did in the end, into an epic for the record books as a Northern Premier League double top which produced the most decisive victory in any final since the Trophy was inaugurated six years ago.
Their fluent front running graced the Wembley turf with their skills and expertise as they unsheathed their spears for that so decisive plunge straight into the heart of the Scarborough side who never stopped fighting.
The paradox of this memorable final was that, despite the crunching bite of those four goals, Matlock really demonstrated their strength in an ability to defend in depth and to deny Scarborough the breaks they sought so desperately.
Goalkeeper David Fell was cool and confident, inspiring flair to read the game accurately was always in the right spot at the right time. In front of him Peter Swan, who marshalled the back four and still had the stamp of a former international. And what a triumphant return it was Swan to the Wembley scene he had known so well back in the early 1960s.
Young full-backs Steve McKay and Colin Smith had the assurance of veterans and Colin Dawson sharing the centre-back role with Peter Swan, made a significant contribution to keeping the middle drum-tight.
In midfield, Matlock had the dynamo mobility of Brian Stuart and the commanding assurance of Tom Fenoughty; and with Colin Oxley, Mick Fenoughty and even Peter Scott always ready to fall back when the need arose, it was little wonder that Scarborough’s ‘Red Devils’ were exorcised.
Scarborough’s build up was impressive and they set the pace for much of the first half. Much of their shooting was off-target but Matlock refused them space to create clear-cut openings.
Colin Oxley was to emerge as one of the men of the match and struck the first confidence-boosting blow for Matlock after just 17 minutes. Full-back Ray Pettit seemed to have a bad attack of Wembley nerves when he fumbled a back pass from player-coach Ken Houghton after a throw-in. Oxley chased, and gained possession, and from 30 yards out coolly made ground drew out the keeper Mike Williams, before rifling the ball into the empty net.
Only a minute later Matlock should have increased their lead when Pettit, this time showing no nerves, headed away a cross-drive from Mick Fenoughty with Williams unsighted.
After the restart, Scarborough hurled everything into attack but again Matlock’s defence held firm. Then came Matlock’s counter attack and the initial sign that the Gladiators thrust would sweep them to success.

Oxley’s tricky footwork constantly caused Scarborough problems and Nick and Mick Fenoughty seemed to fire plenty of room to play down the left. A beautifully placed corner from Mick Fenoughty brought Matlock’s second goal after 70 minutes. As the ball reached the goalmouth, Peter Scott headed it down to Dawson, who blasted home from close range.
Six minutes later, Matlock led 3-0. Mick Fenoughty was fouled by Dunn. And as though he was avenging an insult to the family, Tom Fenoughty sent a 35-yard angled free-kick whistling into the back of the net. Williams never stood a chance!
 

Scarborough still fought on and forced Fell to make saves from Houghton, Aveyard and Barmby, before Matlock surged forward again in the 82nd minute. Oxley mesmerised three defenders in a jinking run almost to the by-line before slotting a close-range cross into the goalmouth for Nick Fenoughty to head in with superb confidence.
Matlock had risen magnificently to their greatest occasion. They contained the pressure when it was on and snapped up vital chances on the break - what more could be asked of any football team?

MATLOCK TOWN: Fell, McKay, Smith, Stuart, P Swan, Dawson, Oxley, N Fenoughty, Scott, T Fenoughty, M Fenoughty. Sub: Brookes.
Scarborough: Williams, Hewitt, Pettit, Dunn, Marshall, Todd, Houghton, Woodall, Davidson, Barmby, Aveyard. Sub: Fountain. Referee Mr K Styles (Barnsley). Attendance 21,000.

THOUSANDS LINED THE STREETS FOR GLORIOUS GLADIATORS
A warm welcome home...click here to see more photos

The town had never seen anything like it before! Thousands of cheering, singing, hooting, whistling, delirious fans lined the streets and along the coach route all the way from Cromford to the County Offices in Matlock.
As Peter Swan  and his team held the FA Trophy aloft from the open-topped roof, lifelong supporters admitted there had never been anything like it in the area in living memory.
It was certainly a ‘heroes return’ for the Gladiators as the crowds - three and four deep - filled every possible vantage point and packed Crown Square just to catch a fleeting glimpse of the players and the trophy. There was a sea of blue and white bathed in the warm spring sunshine. There were cheers all along the route as player manager Peter Swan, skipper Tom Fenoughty and most of the other players and club officials waved back and rode majestically in the decorated club coach.
They came through Matlock Bath, along Dale Road and into cup-crazy Crown Square, travelling on past Causeway Lane, Matlock Green and Lime Tree Road before climbing Lime Tree Road and the final lap of honour along Smedley Street to County Offices.
There, Matlock Band, led by director of music, Murray Slater, stepped in to sum it all up with ‘congratulations.’ The gleaming FA Trophy was proudly held high again to confirm Matlock Town were now on top of the non-league world.
‘Super blues, super Swan,’ was the chant as the fans massed in great force in their blue and white scarves, rosettes and banners as the team stepped down from the coach to share another champagne toast before they made their way through the doorway into what was once the cool, calm and quiet of the former Smedley’s Hydro. Councillor George Peach, chairman of West Derbyshire District Council and councillor George Coleman, chairman of the County Council, officially welcomed Peter Swan and the players and officials from Matlock Town FC to the main terrace.
Below them swept a blue and white tide of supporters from Smedley Street into the grounds below the terrace. There were further cheers as the Band played ‘March of the Gladiators,’ when Swannie, Tom Fenoughty and the others entered the terrace to acknowledge the crowds.
‘We want Swannie, we want Swannie,’ demanded the supporters as Peter Swan -— soon to become a football folk hero - stepped up to the microphone. ‘When I saw Tom Fenoughty go up to receive the cup, I thought this is Matlock’s finest hour,’ he explained. ‘I was really proud of all our players. The response from everyone at Matlock during the past year - the team, the committee, the supporters, has made me proud too. I have only been at Matlock for one season but I feel that I have been here all my life.’
Club captain Tom Fenoughty, the former Sheffield United and Chesterfield player was next to speak. He added: ‘This has been a great season for all, and for me, it has been a real bit of icing on the cake.’
One by one the Wembley heroes were introduced to the enthusiastic and boisterous crowd and later during the formal reception in the members room at County Offices, councillor Coleman on behalf of the County Council and the District Council, presented Matlock Town with a silver plate to commemorate their FA Trophy success.
‘This is to show the appreciation of the two authorities of a first-class team, who gave a first-class performance at Wembley,’ he stated. Cliff Britland, management committee chairman, received the plate on behalf of the club.