Matlock making friends across the pond

Minnesota United President Nick Rogers thanked Matlock Town for an ‘incredible welcome’ after his side won 3-0 at the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club’s newly renamed Autoworld Arena on Monday night.

Nearly four hundred fans turned out to see the Premier Division club’s prestige friendly against the North American Soccer League oufit who are on a pre-season tour and take on the Championship's Derby County next week before returning home to play David Beckham's former MLS club LA Galaxy.

Rogers said: "We’re been really well looked after since we arrived in England and were given an incredible welcome by the club and fans. It was a good game and they are a good side so I think the score was a little unfair on Matlock. It gave us an opportunity to look at a few triallists and was good preparation for us three weeks into preseason to get a run-out."

Minnesota won thanks to a first half strike from Christian Ramirez two minutes before the break and second half goals from Christian Diaz six minutes after the interval and Nate Polak six minutes before the end.

Founded in 2010, the Loons or United, as they are known, have a multi-national squad and are managed by head coach Manny Lagos who was a member of the USA's 1992 Olympic team.