Tuesday 29th July BUXTON (0) 0 STOCKPORT COUNTY 'B' (1) 1 ATT 363

After 7 goals scored in consecutive victories, Tuesday evening's defeat came as something of a reality check showing that, after a somewhat sub-standard performance, there is still work to be done prior to the NLN season kicking off on August 9th. In a couple of ways, it was a night of experiments by the home management. The first half formation was as seen previously but on Tuesday recent signing, Max Bardell, figured in his alternative position of right-back, while after half-time a system featuring 3 centre-backs was tried with Bardell, George Ward & Kieran Burton the defensive trio. The hosts kept a 2nd-half 'clean sheet' but couldn't create a sufficiently clear opening to equalise County's 18th-minute, well-made goal. The visitors' particular strength was their ability to counter-attack rapidly & dangerously through the most effective forward on view, the pacy, highly promising Aron Allen, who took his goal well with a low shot off the trialist 'keeper's body after an accurate low cross had capped a quick break on the right.

The evening produced only that one goal, but the match had quality as both sides attacked with attractive passing soccer that led to penalty-area play at both ends. The nearest 'the Bucks' came to a goal was in the 13th minute when left-back Deniche Hall delivered an accurate lofted cross from the left flank for striker Callum Ebanks to head against the near post. The number 9 has still to find the net for his new club, but he played his part in several attacks in that first half towards the Ashwood End with a variety of neat passes & flicks.

After County's goal, the home response was an immediate passing move for midfielder Tate Campbell, returning from injury, to set up Cian Coleman for a low cross-shot that passed narrowly beyond the far post. Thereafter a fierce, rising Hill shot was expertly tipped over by former Marine loan 'keeper, Wogan, while Coleman's fine, lofted, curled effort just missed the far post.

In the 2nd half Buxton's changed formation generally could find neither the fluency nor the creative ability of previous outings but nonetheless there were encouraging features such as Hill's great pace when attacking up the left, plus Luke Brennan's ability to beat his man to cross threateningly from the by-line. One such attack came in the 84th minute but, from a difficult position, an Ebanks header looped over the bar.

Buxton complete their pre-season programme at Warrington Town on Saturday at 3 pm before returning to the Tarmac Silverlands on Saturday, August 9th, for the opening NLN fixture versus Radcliffe, also at 3 p.m.

Bucks: Trialist; Bardell, Ward, Burton, Hill; Kirby; Johnston, Campbell, Coleman, McLean; Ebanks. Used Subs: Melville, Trueman, Brennan, Viggars, Martin, Balfe.

 

Saturday 26th July BUXTON (1) 3 MANCHESTER CITY UNDER 21 X1 (0) 2 ATT. 644

After consecutive pre-season encounters versus non-league opponents, on Saturday Buxton undertook a very different challenge when entertaining a team of Premiership starlets from the Etihad in a thoroughly entertaining match that promised much for the hosts' NLN season.

Apart from Luke Brennan forcing an early corner, the opening quarter saw both these footballing sides probing & sparring but that ended in the 25th minute at the Ashwood End as a searing run & shot by visiting winger, Ryan McAido (17), brought the best out of home 'keeper, Paul Cooper, with a flying save. Yet the hosts, nearing half-time, responded in equally exciting fashion as latest signing, centre-back Max Bardell from Derby County, speared a loose ball narrowly wide of goal from 22 yards, but that proved to be a prelude to the opening goal within a minute. Will Trueman's pass allowed Johnny Johnston to drive to the right by-line at pace from where he produced a firm, low cut- back for the onrushing & impressive Ryan Viggars to thrash home skilfully from 8 yards.

Eleven minutes into the 2nd half 'the Bucks' doubled their advantage with another well-made & well-taken goal. Johnston's run down the right made the opening & when Trueman created space centrally, Brennan picked his spot inside a post from 10 yards. However, the hosts conceded a goal just 6 minutes later after first earning credit for some neat short- passing, under pressure, deep in the left side of their defence. An interception was made to set up American debutant, Cavan Sullivan. (not 16 till September & the youngest player on view), for a sharp, low, 15-yard finish inside the near post. The unremitting action produced another goal 4 minutes later in a fashion that puzzled many in the healthy- sized crowd. Premiership referee, Darren England, the highest- status official to have acted at the Tarmac Silverlands in recent times, spotted a hand- ball offence in the home penalty area & Divine Mukasa netted fiercely & impressively from 'the spot' to level the scores at 2-2.

Buxton made 5 second- half substitutions & the visitors 9, including Reigan Heskey (17), the son of former England international, Emile, but the quality of the play was maintained to the end as Buxton in particular continued to carve out openings, with 3 of their substitutes significantly involved. Cian Coleman forced a corner- kick then both Ryan McLean & Callum Ebanks were close to a decisive touch near goal, but the winner did follow a minute later in the 77th. Ebanks & Coleman created the opportunity for Brennan to show maximum composure in sliding the ball wide of 'keeper Jack Wint into the far side netting. Even then there was more excitement as in the 89th minute 'the Bucks' were close to doubling their advantage again at a corner but City broke away rapidly & it needed a 50-yard, high-speed recovery run by McLean to deny the ever-threatening Sullivan the chance of an equaliser.

After such superb fare, Buxton will play their last home friendly on Tuesday evening versus Stockport County 'B' (at 7-30 pm) before wrapping up their pre-season programme at recently- relegated Warrington Town next Saturday (at 3 pm). 'The Bucks' open their NLN season on Sat. August 9th at home to Radcliffe (at 3 pm).

Bucks: Cooper; Robinson, Bardell, Ward, Burton; Kirby; Trueman, Johnston, Martin, Brennan; Viggars. Used Subs: Trialist, Coleman, McLean, Ebanks, Balfe

 

Saturday 19th July BUXTON (1) 1 BURY (1) 1 ATT. 669 Pre-season friendly

In the most feisty & competitive pre-season friendly seen at the Silverlands in years, the new-look Buxton had an intensive work-out versus the recently-promoted phoenix club, Bury F.C., who clearly saw another opportunity, after defeating Chester 3-1 last weekend, to boost their confidence against an opponent positioned 2 levels higher in the pyramid. As a result, E.F.L.referee Jamie O'Connor had his work cut out to keep all the players on the pitch as the match had every appearance of a fiercely-contested league or cup match.

Some 36 hours back from their 5-day trip to Dublin, 'the Bucks' displayed over the 90 minutes a blend of 5 new signings, including the returning former loanee, Cian Coleman as a permanent recruit, 2 trialists, 8 returning favourites & a promising Academy scholar in Harry Balfe. They were fully extended by most capable visitors who will surely be a leading light in the NPL (West) Division, with 'keeper Paul Cooper in the first half forced into regular action. Yet the first attempt on goal fell to home striker , Johnny Johnston, who was played in by new left-back Deniche Hill (from Leicester City), but 'keeper Allen thwarted him & Bury responded immediately & effectively as ex-Silverlander 'D.J' Pedro fed striker Johnson for a near-miss. The visitors continued to make openings with Cooper twice forced to show his considerable shot-stopping ability.

Both teams played a pleasing brand of passing soccer including a neat Bury move that set up midfielder Evans for a low,15-yards cross-shot that narrowly missed the far post, while the hosts created a penetrative passing attack but Kez Martin from similar range fired high over the bar.On 35 minutes Bury scored first as Pedro set up ex-Scarborough midfielder Kieran Glynn for a crisp, close-range finish & within a minute Pedro's deflected shot brought another good save out of Cooper. Five minutes later 'the Bucks' equalised as Martin & Johnston combined on the right to provide new midfielder Tate Campbell with the position from which he struck a delightfully accurate, 12-yards,finishing shot inside the far post. Then Cooper founded off the half with a flying save from Pedro's 25-yard drive to seal his award of the sponsors' Man-of-the-Match.

A trialist 'keeper was Cooper's replacement for the second half & he too was forced into spectacular action with an instinctive tip-over save from an Evans effort following a 19-yards, centrally-placed free-kick & he then produced a very effective punch to clear the ensuing lofted corner-kick. The usual multiple substitutions dominated proceedings in the last quarter while the exchanges continued to the end to be both lively & even.

The next fixture in Buxton's pre-season programme is on Tuesday at Matlock Town (kick-off 7-30 p.m) with the Markovitz Cup, currently held by Buxton, at stake, before the talented Manchester City Under-21 team, doubtless packed with future stars, visit the Tarmac Silverlands next Saturday at 3 p.m.

Bucks: Cooper (Trialist); Trueman), Trialist, Burton, Hill (Balfe); Campbell (Kirby); McLean (Brennan), Johnston, Coleman, Martin: Ebanks (Viggars).