STEVEN Tames scored a decisive goal for Witton Albion in added time to settle the outcome of a game the visitors had to win twice.

His penalty was saved by Matlock Town goalkeeper Phil Barnes, but the attacker was swift to react and steered the loose ball into the net.

They close a gap to the promotion play-offs places to six points as a result.

A victory appeared secure when they led 2-0 after an hour.

Owen Dale, denied earlier by Barnes when he tried his luck from a direct free-kick, arced in a delicious opening goal after shuffling the ball onto his right-foot.

Carl Macauley’s men doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Gladiators defender Brad-Lee Gascoigne made a hash of steering Matty Devine’s lofted pass back to his custodian and Will Jones nipped in to score.

The home team responded by sending on substitutes Ricky German, a loanee from Chesterfield that scored in the return at Wincham Park, and Curtis Morrison.

A change in formation yielded two goals inside a four-minute spell.

Lee Bennett rose at the back-post to meet a corner from the left with a downward header.

A leveller followed when Shaun Harrad, after taming a free-kick with his chest, dispatched a powerful strike into the far-corner past goalkeeper Ryan Neild.

There was another twist when referee Ed Pidduck dismissed Jones for his part in an altercation with Barnes witnessed by one of his assistants.

Matlock’s custodian was booked.

Albion were relieved too when Michael Wilson escaped with a caution after hauling back Harrad.

The home team were reduced to 10 men when Joe Doyle-Charles was booked twice in quick succession for fouls on James Foley.

And their spirited recovery proved in vain after Dwayne Wiley pulled back Tames once the attacker had sneaked in front of him in a foot-race to a through-ball.

Witton’s leading-scorer increased his goal-tally for the campaign to 19 after Barnes parried his initial spot-kick attempt.

Matlock | Barnes (GK), Gascoigne, Wallace, Doyle-Charles, Yates, Wiley, Green (Morrison 57), Michael Williams, Harrad, Bennett, Jackson (German 57) Subs not used Cribley, Yeomans, Limb Goals Bennett 63, Harrad 67 Booked Green, Barnes, Doyle-Charles, Wiley, Harrad Sent off Doyle-Charles (second caution)

Witton | Neild (GK), McKenna (Gardner 76), Devine, Humphreys (Brown 63), Wilson, Foley, Dale (Haywood 73), Owens, Hopley, Jones, Tames Subs not used Paul Williams, Ryan Goals Dale 14, Jones 56, Tames 90 (+7)

Referee Edward Pidduck

Attendance 421