"Are you not entertained?" asked Maximus Decimus Meridius of the crowd in the 2000 film Gladiator, and the answer to that among many in yesterday's Non-League Day crowd was probably not after a tough, scrappy encounter with few clear-cut chances.

The promotion-chasing visitors had the better of the first half, with Ryan Viggars' glancing header from Declan Thompson's delivery just beyond the far post on 7 mins. A minute later Liam Ravenhill's low drive was flicked on by Conor Washington and looked to be heading into the net, but was cleared off the line. Ex-Northern Ireland international Washington was unlucky not to give his side the lead on eleven minutes when he drilled a shot against the post. With Garforth struggling to retain possession and create any real openings, the chances continued for Matlock as the half came to an end. Viggars hit wide at the far post Calum Macdonald's cross and Harry Flatters tipped onto the crossbar a Charlie Oglesby strike from Macdonald's corner kick.

On 58 mins Thompson tried his luck with a long range effort which sailed wide. Quality in front of goal was lacking from both sides for much of the second period, but it was the Gladiators who produced it twelve minutes from time to take the points. Washington did well to hold the ball up on the right to find substitute Tom Elliot who in turn supplied Theo Upton to fire past Flatters into the net.

The late introduction of Sam Denton and development side striker Alex Widdup gave the Miners more presence up front, but even so Flatters kept us in it when saving with his legs Thompson's low shot from a Matlock counter-attack. Our only shot on target of the afternoon arrived in injury time when Owen Marshall's diagonal ball picked out Rinor Ejupi at the far post who's effort was denied by keeper Declan Lambton.

No shortage of effort from The Miners who ultimately fell short against an experienced side in no mood to give out the sort of gifts witnessed in the 3-3 draw in Derbyshire back in August. It's Part Three of Five of Town's travels up the A1 next Saturday, when we visit Bishop Auckland (kick-off 3pm).