15 August 2009       Attendance: 421

A LATE goal by Gav Knight looked to have sealed an opening day win for Buxton on Saturday.

But Bradford Park Avenue hit back within a minute to level things and when a second goal by Knight was ruled offside, both teams had to make do with a point each.

It was a bright start to the season for Buxton, whose side featured three returning players and four new faces.

And it was one of the new additions to the squad, Kieran Lugsden, who had Buxton's first opening when his long range effort on four minutes was collected by visiting keeper Steve Dickinson.
Avenue replied with a Rob O'Brien free kick that was sent wide before Chris Hall shot over the net for the visitors.

Buxton's Steve Ridley then unleashed a powerful long range shot that was well blocked by Dickinson on 38 minutes ensuring the half ended on level terms.

Bradford nearly took the lead just minutes after the restart when Aiden Savory's shot skimmed past the post as the visitors looked to open the scoring.

But it was the home side who were next up with a decent chance, Knight finding himself in a good position around the hour mark only for his shot to be sent wide when he failed to make the correct contact with the ball.

A nasty challenge by Chris Stabb on Kieran Lugsden gave Buxton a free kick with 79 minutes gone and Dickinson pulled off an excellent fingertip save to deny Ridley's fierce shot.

And the visiting keeper was called into action again a few minutes later to deny the advancing Knight.

Michael Towey had earlier arrived to replace Jon Froggatt and it was Towey who set up Buxton's goal when he fed a great ball through to Knight who fired home on 87 minutes.

A minute later though and Bradford took advantage of a defensive mix up to level things through Andy Campbell.

Knight thought he'd made it two in the dying minutes when he slotted home from another excellent Towey cross but referee Paul Graham ruled it out.

Match Report Courtesy of the Buxton Advertiser

Team: Scott Hartley, Grant Black, Scott Maxfield, Sam Liversidge, Gregg Anderson, Neil Stevens, Kieran Lugsden, Christian Millar, Jon Froggatt, Gavin Knight, Steve Ridley
Subs: Kyle Collins, Michael Towey (Froggatt), Tommy Agus, Joe Wilcox, Ryan Pugh
Goalscorers: Knight