After a five-week enforced winter break, the Bucks at last managed to play this county cup replay against Blue Square North outfit Ilkeston Town.

The home side had the advantage of working off their rest period last Saturday at Fleetwood.

This advantage, however, was evident only in extra time when Ilkeston took the lead for a second time and then built on it with a fortuitous own goal to loosen Buxton's grip on the fine trophy which they won last May.

In normal time, the Bucks had acquitted themselves very well, fighting back from the concession of an early goal to match their higher status opponents, only to squander a trio of goalscoring opportunities before finally scoring the equaliser their efforts deserved.

Dan Holmes gave Ilkeston the lead after only ten minutes with a powerful, if speculative, 30-yard drive past a possibly unsighted Scott Hartley.

The visitors rallied immediately, and when home keeper Dan Lawson fouled Mark Reed at a corner, Tommy Agus had the chance to level matters from the spot.

However, his shot was too close to the custodian, who saved at the expense of a corner, from which Gregg Anderson headed narrowly wide with Lawson flat-footed.

Buxton continued to press and Gavin Knight's lob almost defeated Lawson, but the striker then had a better chance in a one-on-one situation with the keeper, only to find his opponent's legs with the shot.

Mark Reed's play was particularly impressive as he created openings for his colleagues, and one such chance set-up Steve Ridley but his shot was deflected wide for yet another corner.

The visitors must surely have been puzzled at the interval about their failure to get on the scoresheet, and their luck seemed right out on 55 minutes.

Mark Reed intercepted Anderson's wayward strike at goal, and in a flash turned to score low into the corner from 19 yards only to see the assistant's flag raised for what at best was a highly marginal offside decision.

Undeterred, the Bucks pressed forward and eight minutes later achieved parity. A Grant Black free kick was headed across goal by Reed and Knight netted at the far post.

As extra time beckoned, an already good game got even better as both teams strived hard for a winner but in vain.

The added half hour proved an anti-climax for Buxton, who conceded a 94th minute goal which seemed to sap their self-belief as well as their remaining energy.

Ilkeston's height at set pieces was their greatest threat all evening, and Jack Watts duly profited from a half-cleared corner.

In the second period, the unfortunate Anderson found his own net in attempting to clear a threat resulting from a left flank throw-in.
Defeated certainly, but far, far from disgraced.