Saturday 12th September BUXTON (2) 3 CHESTER (1) 1 ATT 1305

'The Bucks' on Saturday served up an ultimately convincing victory over 7th-placed Chester, who in 4 previous NLN visits had achieved 3 wins and a draw. The hosts, unchanged from the 5-0 midweek mauling of Brackley Town, had to strive hard for supremacy but their 2nd and 3rd goals were scored at crucial times to set up the victory which hoisted them 2 places to 7th. The 2nd, from the penalty spot and a first goal for Devlan Moses, the Sheffield Wednesday loanee striker, gave Buxton the lead for the 2nd time a few minutes before the interval, while the 3rd on 78 minutes averted a nervous climax to a match between teams with genuine promotion aspirations once more.

Despite only 13 goals in total having come from Chester's 8 fixtures, the visitors fielded an unusual 3-1-3-3 attacking formation and from the outset pushed midfielders forward at the Railway End as they enjoyed a majority of possession in the opening quarter of the match. A Murphy free-kick from 20 yards out on 20 minutes was potentially dangerous but his shot was kindly and comfortably deflected to home 'keeper, Logan Stretch.

Seven minutes later came a perfect example of how goals change games as Buxton's leading scorer, Sisa Tuntulwana, netted superbly. He latched onto a weak defensive header and, despite the presence of 3 defenders, weaved past them towards goal and in composed fashion found the net. Chester, however, continued to look threatening and 10 minutes on equalised following a visitors' free-kick that was only partially cleared. Experienced striker, Billy Waters (ex-Crewe), was the beneficiary, driving high into the net from 12 yards. Yet parity lasted only until the 41st minute when Chester captain Weeks manhandled Sisa and with last season's penalty-taker being the departed Luke Brennan. the responsibility fell to recent arrival, Devlan Moses, who netted impeccably by sending ex-Fleetwood 'keeper, Hewitson, the wrong way to find the opposite corner.

The interval saw Buxton manager, Jordan Broadbent, make a tactical change that was to work well. Ashton Mee strengthened midfield and he had soon delivered a fine pass to Moses on the right, but his lofted cross was too deep. By then former Buxton striker, Jacob Hazel, had earned the displeasure of the ranks of Chester fans by spurning a clear chance of a shot at goal.

The 2nd half continued to provide the spectators with attacking soccer at both ends. Throughout, ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Altrincham winger, Sam Reed, had been the visitors' most dangerous attacker with determined runs forward on the right flank, while Tony Weston was prominent for Buxton. Just past the hour he came close to a goal when his shot was deflected against the bar and one of Mee or Moses at the far post should have scored.

Johnny Johnston was introduced on the right in the 65th minute to illustrate the wealth of the hosts' attacking talent, while Ruben Butt, Nicky's son and on loan from Salford City, was a Chester substitute, but in the 78th minute a 3rd Buxton goal doubled the advantage to make victory even more likely. A defensive error put the effective Mee in possession and from his pass, Sisa netted at the 2nd attempt from close range through a combination of strength and sheer determination. His 9 goals to date equal the tally of all Chester's players put together! The value of that strike was shown in the last of the 4 added minutes when Chester's Woodthorpe was a likely scorer but for a fine block by substitute Will Trueman.

That final piece of action is an indication of a major reason for the victory as Buxton's defence was outstanding in repelling Chester's attacks with Finn Cousin-Dawson, returning after injury, marshalling his troops. Sisa's goals, of course, were another factor in the success and now 'the Bucks' have scored 22 home goals in 8 NLN and friendly fixtures, 7 of which have been won. It has indeed been a splendid week that is contributing to the best home start to a season since the NPL championship-winning campaign of 2021/22.

Bucks: Stretch; Siqueira (Trueman), Cousin-Dawson, Burton, Brockbank; Tipton, Scales; Pescatore (Mee), Weston (Johnston), Moses (Devonport), Tuntulwana (Woltman). Unused Subs: Johnson & Cooper

POSTSCRIPT

Buxton's victory was the first at home versus a Chester team since January 1969 when the hosts had won 7-0 against the reserve team of the former Chester club in a Cheshire League fixture. The Cheshire club left the competition at the end of the season and there wasn't another visit till 2010/11 when the meeting produced a 1-1 draw as the re-formed Chester was en route to promotion from the NPL Premier to Step 2. After that the next encounters were to be in the NLN.

 

Tuesday 8th September Buxton (1) 5 Brackley Town (0) 0 ATT 567

Back on home turf, The Bucks roared back on Tuesday evening with a second half, four-goal salvo at the Ashwood End to dispatch the recently-relegated ‘Saints’.  The visitors capitulated late on to conceded three goals in twelve minutes when they simply had no answer to the pacy, powerful home attacks. Yet at half-time the same thought applied as had been the case at Morecambe last Saturday, but in reverse. There the Bucks and ‘Shrimps’ had been goal-less before the hosts won 4-0 with surely nobody expecting that outcome, while on Tuesday, Buxton’s single-goal interval lead was deserved but certainly not conclusive and it took a dominant second half display not only to delight ‘the faithful’ but also to transform a goal difference deficit from -3 to a positive plus 2.

Manager Jordan Broadbent resisted the possibility of wholesale changes to make just two to what looked an attacking starting line-up, with loanee winger Josh Pescatore replacing Will Trueman and Finn Cousin-Dawson returning from injury to play at centre-back in place of George Cooper.

The Bucks early on showed attacking intent with home debutant Devlan Moses progressing forcibly up the right, then his strike partner, Sisa Tuntulwana, twice got shots away before producing a 7th minute lead for his team. Gui Siqueira advanced on the right to feed Pescatore, who crossed low for Sisa to force the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Despite the setback the 16th-placed visitors by the quarter hour had settled to their passing game and though easy on the eye, it failed to create a goalscoring opportunity until just prior to the interval when a 25-yard rising drive by right right-back Lissimore (ex-Alfreton) cleared the bar. Meanwhile the hosts continued to look capable to look capable of doubling their advantage notably at the half-hour mark when Moses fed Pescatore for a cross towards Sisa that was cleared with difficulty.

A similar pattern prevailed into the second half and Moses was soon close to profiting from a through ball with visiting ‘keeper Rhone narrowly denying him. However, just short of the hour, Buxton did score again. Sisa did well to supply the dangerous Pescatore on the right and from his low cut-back midfielder Kian Scales opened his Buxton FC scoring account with a cleanly-struck low diagonal drive into the far net corner.

Even then, the final score could not have been envisaged as the visitors’ loan striker, the experienced Tahvon Campbell, ex-West Brom, was next to threaten with a fierce drive beaten away by Logan Stretch at his near post. Yet the Bucks, employing a direct approach, unseen in the previous regime, threatened three times in four minutes as three-quarter time arrived and Brackley faded. The flood-gates opened in the 78th minute when Sisa fastened on to a Siqueira’ long ball to complete his ‘brace’ and his seventh competitive goal to date. Three nothing became four on 85 when substitute Ashton Mee was impressive in heading strongly for goal down the inside left channel and finishing in composed fashion, low to Rhoan’s left. With Brackley’s rearguard seemingly now demoralised, fellow attacking substitute, Max Woltman, netted a first Buxton goal in the 89th minute with a clinical, low, 16-yard drive inside ether post to complete the scoring. Including the three home friendlies, the Bucks have now won six of their seven home outings, but a firmer challenge can be expected on Saturday with the visit of well-supported Chester whose early form had taken the club briefly to the top of the table.

Bucks: Stretch; Siqueira, Cousin-Dawson (Cooper), Burton, Brockbank; Tipton (Trueman), Scales; Pescatore (Woltman), Weston (Mee), Tuntulwana; Moses (Devonport). Unused Subs: Melville & Grist

 

Saturday 5th September MORECAMBE (0) 4 BUXTON (0) 0 ATT. 2267

Buxton's 1st visit to play at Morecambe since the last day of the 1994/95 campaign unhappily produced a 4-goal, 2nd-half drubbing that surely nobody saw coming after a goal-less, evenly-fought 1st period in which the visitors had carved out but spurned a first-minute, clear scoring opportunity that, if scored, would probably have been a game-changer and, close to the interval, they had a goal disallowed.

Buxton had made 4 changes, including Friday's signing, striker Devlan Moses on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, in place of Owen Devonport. Gui Siqueira returned at right-back for Ben Grist, Will Trueman replaced Ashton Mee in midfield, while striker Sisa Tuntulwana was selected in place of Johnny Johnston. Morecambe had suffered a poor start to the season but had won at league-leaders Chester on Monday, yet the concession of such a very early goal might well have done significant damage to the Shrimps' confidence. The opening came about when debutant Moses, with his very first touch, won a crucial tackle in midfield then dispatched a superbly penetrative, diagonal pass to send Kian Scales clear of the home defence with only reserve 'keeper, Boney, to beat, but he made a hash of the attempted finish! (Ex-Silverlander Joe Young was absent with a hamstring issue). Barely 30 seconds from the first whistle had elapsed.

The visiting defence didn't start well as from 2 Morecambe corner-kicks, attackers' headers respectively passed first wide then high, while Buxton's first flag-kick in the 17th minute, was equally threatening as 2 goal-bound shots were blocked. The action thereafter remained mostly even, though 'the Bucks' enjoyed a promising spell in the closing 10 minutes of the half. They twice attacked effectively on the left, prompted by ex-AFC Fylde left-back, Liam Brockbank, and from the 44th-minute foray, Sisa found the net only for the 'goal' to be disallowed for a push.

At half-time any one of the 3 results looked possible, particularly as in earlier matches both teams had shown 2nd-half improvement. However, in the 50th minute it was the hosts  who seized the initiative as striker Daly fired home low and diagonally from 15 yards to end a persistent attack. That prompted a rare yellow card to be shown to Buxton manager, Jordan Broadbent, who most unusually had complained of refereeing inconsistency in that this goal stood but, in very similar circumstances, Buxton's had not. Nor was this the sole criticism that could be made of a well below-par display by referee Hussain, who in the first-half twice had to be bailed out by a 'miked-up' assistant when his eyes were obviously not on the ball.

With their tails up Morecambe continued to attack effectively and in the 63rd minute, shortly after 'J. J' had been brought on to boost Buxton's attacking power, the hosts doubled their advantage. A quickly-taken centre-field free-kick allowed 'the Shrimps' to attack rapidly on the left and winger Elliot Newby finished ruthlessly from 12 yards (some 30 minutes after his fellow winger, brother Alex, had equalised for York at Crewe). To their credit, the now rampant hosts didn't sit back on their lead and, urged on by the vociferous support behind the goal they were attacking, 'went for the jugular’ to produce 2 fine late goals. In the 78th minute a home free-kick into the penalty area was headed down for Daly to claim a brace for the afternoon, then 8 minutes on, substitute Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, long a thorn in Buxton's side for the likes of Warrington Town, Curzon Ashton and 'Macc', cut in from the left to direct from 20 yards a sumptuous, curling shot inside the far post. There was a late boost for Buxton with the return after injury of experienced ex-Bradford City central defender, Finn Cousin-Dawson.

After the great encouragement of Bank Holiday weekend wins versus very good teams in Oxford City and Merthyr Town, Saturday's reverse served to confirm the strength in depth of this season's NLN.

Bucks: Stretch; Siqueira (Johnston), Cooper (Cousin-Dawson), Burton, Brockbank; Tipton, Trueman, Scales (Mee), Weston (Devonport), Tuntulwana, Moses (Woltman). Unused Subs: Melville & Pescatore

 

Monday 31st August BUXTON (1) 2 MERTHYR TOWN (1) 1 ATT 940

The Tarmac Silverlands Bank Holiday Monday afternoon that began with a spontaneous, generous round of applause for broken-leg victim, Connor Kirby, on his first return, ended with 'the Bucks' earning all the points versus the most accomplished visitors yet seen in what was indeed as good a contest as could be wished for. 'The Martyrs' have played very well on each of their 3 visits and from this mid-table meeting can consider themselves most unfortunate to have gone home empty-handed. It will be very surprising if they don't climb quickly to a challenging position. Yet this has been a stunningly successful weekend for Buxton, with wins against 2 very good teams to climb into the top half of the table.

The management continues to make full use of its ample squad and decided on 4 initial changes which brought the return of Liam Brockbank, Owen Devonport, Ben Grist and Johnny Johnston, followed by all 5 permissible substitutions, the first 2 of which were made at the interval. In the opening 10 minutes there was action from both teams to indicate what was to come. A Kian Scales pass set up 'J.J' for a pacy run to the left by-line at the Ashwood End with his lofted cut-back narrowly evading Ashton Mee, while Merthyr pieced together a passing move from which striker Simpson dispatched a diagonal shot that passed narrowly wide and 6 minutes later, he fired over the bar. Yet it was the hosts who took a 17th-minute lead as several men made excellent contributions. Kieran Burton's determined, ball-winning perseverance in midfield and Devonport's accurate headed pass provided Mee with the opening to feed home debutant Tony Weston on the right and he struck a superb ground shot from 17 yards into the far net corner. Then Devonport and Johnston combined to force a corner-kick from which Brockbank's delivery was glanced wide by Mee. However, 'the Martyrs' midfield prowess spelled danger and they netted from a flag-kick, but the 'goal' was ruled out for a foul. Nonetheless the visitors persevered effectively and equalised just on half-time. A passing move on the right allowed a cross that was only partially headed away so that the ball fell kindly to ex-Torquay left-back Foulston 12 yards out and he hammered home high into the net.

Manager Jordan Broadhead introduced right-back Gui Siqueira and Sisa for the second half but the game's third quarter was a near-nightmare for the hosts as they were thoroughly outplayed in midfield, but totally committed, skilful defending kept the scores level, the highlight being a brave double block by George Cooper just short of the hour. Merthyr's loss to injury of the influential Livermore soon afterwards was a factor as 'the Bucks' battled back into contention, while the introduction of Will Trueman proved to be an inspired decision. On his 84th appearance for BFC the midfielder netted just his second goal in the 75th minute but it resulted from an outrageous deflection of his 17-yard shot that not only initially wrong-footed long-serving 'keeper Cogman but also took the ball into the far net corner.

Merthyr now mounted serious, sustained pressure but home debutant defensive midfielder, Ollie Tipton, now slotted seamlessly into what had become a back 5. Nevertheless, another piece of good fortune deep in added time preserved the narrow lead. A very rare Burton miskick then a Merthyr touch in front of goal had hearts in mouths but, from the visitors' viewpoint, the ball rolled agonisingly wide and a couple of minutes later the final whistle told that Buxton had beaten a very good team when not at its best.

Bucks: Stretch; Grist (Siqueira), Cooper, Burton, Brockbank; Tipton, Scales, Mee (Trueman); Weston (Pescatore), Devonport (Woltman), Johnston (Tuntulwana). Unused Subs: Melville & Shaw.

 

Friday 28th August Oxford City (0) 2 Buxton (2) 3 ATT 1164

Buxton had only picked up one point from their two away games so far this season, courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Southport. Tonight marked a rare Friday evening game for the Bucks who made the long trip down south to Oxford City - undefeated in their opening four games of the 26/27 season.

Jordan Broadbent named several fresh faces amongst the Starting XI with new loanee from Kidderminster Harriers, Olly Tipton, getting the nod, alongside Gui Siqueira and Tony Weston who both make their first start for the Bucks. Max Woltman and George Cooper both return to the starting XI. Johnny Johnston missed out due to suspension picked up from the red card at Bedford Town. 

The Bucks started brightly with Shaw overlapping on the left side and hitting a low cross-cum-shot forcing the keeper into action inside the first minute. The early breakthrough fell the Bucks way in the 9th minute when Kian Scales was able to get away down the right-hand side and pull a well-weighted ball across the box for Sisa Tuntulwana to finish first-time. A cagey period followed with neither team really creating any noteworthy chances as the Bucks defence dealt with a couple of set pieces and both sides continued to cancel each other out. However, a corner in the 28th minute was the breaking point. A good ball floated into the box from Max Woltman with skipper, Kieran Burton, rising highest to head home and double the Bucks advantage. Several other chances fell the Bucks way before the break with Max Woltman almost getting on the scoresheet himself, appearing at the back-post but struck shot was blocked on the line. Kian Scales then hit a shot from range but it climbed up and over the bar. Tony Weston, full of energy all game, nearly embarrassed the hosts by intercepting as Oxford attempted to play out from the back but wasn’t able to get good contact on his shot. At the other end, Oxford picked up a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box but were only able to hit the wall. The Bucks went into half-time at the MGroup Stadium 2-0 ahead. 

Jordan Broadbent made a change at the break replacing the hardworking Gui Siqueira with Ben Grist at right back. Oxford saw an early free kick saved in the opening stages of the second half, but it wouldn’t be long before they got themselves back into the game. Tyrone Marsh handed the hosts their lifeline on the 54’ minute mark due to a botched clearance from the Bucks. Several chances followed at both ends in an end-to-end affair, with Weston perhaps going closest after a quick counter from the Bucks only to be denied by Ellis Brown who’d ran the length of the pitch to make a last ditch tackle. A triple change for the Bucks only the hour saw Ashton Mee, Max Woltman, and Josh Shaw all leave the field with Owen Devonport, Will Trueman, and Liam Brockbank the replacements. Chances again at either end as Tuntulwana blazed over the bar and Marsh through on goal save for a last-ditch challenge from Burton. Marsh was certainly the danger man for the Hoops and was unlucky to see his effort in the 70th minute rattle the post after rounding Logan Stretch in the Bucks goal - surely had it gone in it would’ve turned the tide of the match. Not to be outdone, Sisa continued to be a handful in the Bucks attack, showing terrific pace to regularly get the better of the full back. Sisa was rewarded for his effort with less than 10 minutes on the clock. Again, showing pace down the left, beating his man and slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the goal - taking his tally to 5 in 5 games! Six minutes of added time, plus an additional 4 or 5’ following a heavy challenge by Francillette on Burton, was enough to give Oxford another opportunity and Tyrone Marsh grabbed his second goal of the night, but the three Bucks goals were enough to secure three points. 

Bucks: Stretch, Siqueira (Grist), Cooper (O’Reilly), Burton, Shaw (Brockbank), Tipton, Mee (Trueman) Scales, Tuntulwana, Weston, Woltman (Devonport). Unused subs: Pescatore, Melville. 

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Saturday 22nd August BUXTON (1) 1 HEBBURN TOWN (1) 2 ATT 751

After 4 consecutive home wins in friendlies and the season's opening match, Buxton suffered a narrow defeat on Saturday to recently-promoted Hebburn who have now taken 10 points from their first 4 fixtures. 'The Bucks' could claim that at no stage were they outplayed and that 'the Hornets' had 'the rub of the green' on the day in a pleasantly entertaining contest. 

Three changes were made from the midweek fixture at Bedford. 'Keeper Logan Stretch returned after injury, Liam Brockbank replaced Josh Shaw at left-back while Aaron O'Reilly was given a full debut at centre-back in the 4-2-3-1 line-up. Johnny Johnston was able to play as his 1-match suspension applies to next Friday's fixture at Oxford City. Manager Jordan Broadbent is still seeking to add quality to his squad so very recent newcomers, forward Tony Weston and right-back Gui Siqueira, Italian-born but late of Sheffield Wednesday, were named as substitutes.

The early exchanges were even but the visitors, attacking the Railway End, took a 9th-minute lead. Centre-midfielder Wood's incisive pass opened the home defence and though the attack was partly repelled, Jake Charles, grandson of the late, great John. was able to nod home the first of his 2 headed goals. Hebburn's 4-3-3 style continued to offer danger, and Stretch effectively had to punch away a right cross, but that threat was minor compared to the remarkable melee at the Ashwood End in the 20th minute. 'J. J' took on and beat 3 defenders superbly to reach the left by-line but first Sisa then Kian Scales were thwarted by desperate defending from 'keeper Allen and more defenders. Yet the hosts maintained the pressure and did equalise 4 minutes later. Home debutant, loan winger Josh Pescatore from Swansea City, drove powerfully from 19 yards to force a tip-over save, but from Johnston's corner-kick Sisa forced the ball home for his 3rd NLN goal. Buxton were on top for a further few minutes but by half-time Hebburn had battled back and a Stretch save conceded a corner-kick from which Forbes (ex-Darlington) headed over the bar.

After a quiet start to the second half, Buxton manager, Jordan Broadbent, took off Pescatore to give Siqueira his debut in a now 5-man rearguard and he showed promise in supporting attacks from right wing-back. Just past the hour, fellow new signing Tony Weston was also introduced but neither he nor his fellow forwards could fashion a legal opening and after an Owen Devonport headed 'goal' was disallowed for offside, it was Hebburn who netted the afternoon's decisive third goal. At 3/4-time midfielder Murray broke from half-way and looked odds-on to score but Stretch denied him with a fine parry, only for Murray to recover possession and return the ball for Charles to head neatly into a net corner. The visitors might even have doubled their lead but for a splendid recovering tackle by Scales.

Pursuing a second equaliser, Max Woltman was introduced in the 72nd minute in place of O'Reilly as 'the Bucks' reverted to a back four and 5 minutes later he hit a thunderous, rising drive that passed close to goal. Two minutes on, Devonport set up Sisa for a low, curling shot that 'keeper Allan held comfortably but the search for a goal continued and they found the net again as, late on, Devonport shot home, but Allan had been fouled and 1-2 was the result.

The obviously settled team, building on its promotion success, therefore took the points from their first visit to Buxton who are clearly 'a work in progress' after the summer's unavoidable changes in the playing staff and more newcomers are likely. Yet Buxton's outstanding player was stalwart captain and leader, Kieran Burton, though arguably it was the aerial dominance in their own penalty area of his Hebburn counterparts that did most to win the day.

Bucks: Stretch; Grist, O’Reilly (Woltman), Burton, Brockbank; Scales. Trueman (Mee); Pescatore (Siqueira), Tuntulwana, Johnson (Weston); Devonport. Unused Subs: Melville, Cooper and Shaw.

 

Tuesday 18th August Bedford Town (1) 2 Buxton (1) 1 ATT 690

Bedford Town came from behind to beat Buxton 2-1 after Johnny Johnston gave the visitors an early lead, with Reece Evans and George Moncur completing the comeback after Johnston was sent off in the second half. Manager Jordan Broadbent made two changes from the team that drew at Southport with first starts of the season for Johnston and new loan signing Pescatore with Brockbank and Woltman moving to the bench.
The away side started brightly, with loanee Josh Pescatore shooting across the face of goal, but his effort drifted wide. Just two minutes in, they took the lead as Johnston cut inside from the left before curling an effort into the bottom-right corner to make it 1-0. Moments later, Pescatore almost doubled the advantage, forcing Laurie Walker into an outstretched save after linking up with Johnston from a corner. Bedford created their first opportunity in the seventh minute, with Finlay Wilkinson driving into the area before seeing his effort go wide. Next, a signature long throw from Sisa Tuntulwana caused problems for the Bedford defence, with the ball eventually falling to Pescatore, whose volley flew over the bar. Shortly afterwards, Bedford thought they had been awarded a penalty when Reece Evans went down following a challenge from Buxton goalkeeper Walker, but the referee instead pointed for a goal kick. Pressure continued to build as Josh Shaw tried his luck, connecting well with a corner, but Bedford managed to block the effort away. In the 19th minute, the visitors were forced into a change when George Cooper went off injured, with Aaron O’Reilly coming on in his place. Elsewhere, Josh Castiglione played the ball across the area but was unable to pick out Wilkinson, who was running in. Into added time, Bedford found an equaliser when Castiglione once again played the ball across the area, with Evans on hand to convert and make it 1-1.
After the break, Pescatore’s free-kick delivery was met by a Buxton head and deflected out of play. For the third successive game involving Buxton, a red card was shown in the 53rd minute, with Johnston receiving a second yellow for a push as the visitors were reduced to ten men. With the extra man, the Eagles began to take control, forcing Harry Evans into a sharp save at his near post before Shaw cleared the danger away. Their numerical advantage finally paid off in the 69th minute when Evans played the ball across to George Moncur, who unleashed a strike into the top-right corner to put Bedford 2-1 ahead. Late on, substitute Festus Arthur came close to adding a third, but he could not keep his powerful effort down as it sailed over the bar.
The Bucks now face Hebburn at the weekend as they look to get back to winning ways. The match is a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.

Bucks: Evans: Grist, Cooper (O’Reilly), Burton, Shaw (Wadsworth), Pescatore (Brockbank); Scales, Trueman (Mee), Johnson; Tuntulwana, Devonport. Unused Subs: Melville, Woltman & Mantle

 

Saturday 15th August SOUTHPORT (1) 1 BUXTON (0) 1 ATT 1236 (INC. 126 FROM BUXTON)

After making a winning start to their NLN campaign last weekend, 'the Bucks' needed a 92nd-minute equaliser to earn a point by the seaside on Saturday. This was not a game of 2 halves but rather of 2 parts as the visitors struggled to make a consistent impact for all of 45 minutes after surprisingly conceding something of a 'fluke' goal in the 18th, but once home veteran, Danny Lloyd, had been shown a straight red card for a midfield challenge on Kian Scales, they entirely dominated proceedings. Yet, though creating any number of openings, they were regularly thwarted by the brilliance of 'Man Utd' loan 'keeper, Solomon Honor (20), undoubtedly 'the man-of-the-match'.

Buxton continue to suffer from arguably their longest-ever injury list at the start of a season. Even though 2 of the 5 victims, defenders George Cooper and 'Sammy' Robinson, were able to return, 'keeper Logan Stretch and midfielder Ashton Mee had both 'rolled' an ankle so newly-signed Harry Evans (21), ex-Derby County, was given a debut in goal but was beaten in the 18th minute by a probably intended lofted cross from winger McKenzie that found its way into the far top corner. Until then Buxton had been on top but the goal very much boosted Southport's confidence and ambition to attack, while it took until the 42nd minute before 'the Bucks' managed a shot at goal but Sisa's shot from near the by-line, though accurate, was never likely to go in. However, a much greater threat was posed by Lloyd's 49th-minute,20-yards thunderous drive but Evans produced a magnificent flying save to prevent the ball from entering the top corner.

By then Buxton manager, Jordan Broadbent, as previously, had made a half-time attacking substitution, Johnny Johnston replacing defensive midfielder, Josh Shaw, from the starting line-up which featured a mere 2 of last season's squad. The substitute made a distinct impact, as did 'Sammy' Robinson after he came on in the 76th minute to attack from right-back. Even before Lloyd's dismissal 'the Bucks' were offering a much greater threat and home midfielder, Regan Griffiths, (ex-'Macc'), made a vital challenge to thwart Sisa. Five minutes on a second Buxton change was made with Swansea City loanee, Josh Pescatore (19), replacing Max Woltman and he had only just arrived when, out of the blue, Lloyd was dismissed in the 63rd minute.

With a half-hour remaining, Buxton could realistically aim for 3 points rather than merely 1 but Southport made it very difficult, defending tenaciously and soon introducing 3 defensive substitutes. The outcome was constant, exciting Buxton pressure but the point-saver was so late in coming largely as a result of the outstanding display by the home debutant 'keeper, who had seemed so nervous at the outset. Firstly, 'J.J.'s good work on the left created his own opening but Honor produced a low, diving save that was remarkably speedy for a 6' 6" 'keeper. His next excellent stop denied Sisa’s fine shot, but he had no chance with Kieran Burton's equaliser. Sisa launched a long throw that was laid off accurately by Owen Devonport for the stand-in captain to hammer into the roof of the net from 8 yards. Less than 2 minutes remained (as referee Rogers didn't even play the full 4 minutes that he had announced) but Honor was again outstanding in denying Sisa after he had been set up by Devonport's clever headed pass. Altogether the visitors had made 21 attempts on the target and again had conjured an added-time goal but if they are once more to command a high league position, this is surely the type of opponent that will need to be overcome.

Bucks: Evans; Grist (Robinson), Cooper, Shaw, Burton, Brockbank; Scales, Trueman (O’Reilly); Tuntulwana, Devonport, Woltman (Pescatore). Unused Subs: Melville, Wadsworth & Mantle

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Saturday 8th August BUXTON (1) 2 HEREFORD (0) 1 ATT. 1502

By scoring first and last, Buxton deservedly won their opening-day fixture in front of a bumper crowd, but at what a cost! Outstanding captain and leader, Connor Kirby has missed only a handful of games in each of his 4 Silverlands seasons and was making his 204th appearance but in the 64th minute, for the second time in his career, he suffered a broken leg in a challenge with Hereford's Preston Bitemo who was unhesitatingly sent off.

At that point 'the Bucks' were a goal up and well on top and, despite the loss of their influential skipper, continued in the same style but were unable to score a probably decisive second. They made a number of likely openings but various factors kept the score at 1-0 until the 90th minute when a tumultuous period of added time provided a rousing and successful end to Buxton manager Jordan Broadbent's first competitive match in charge

With arguably 4 first-choice defenders still absent after injury, Buxton had as many as 7 debutants and, apart from the time of the equaliser, never looked as vulnerable as early on when visiting striker Spokes should have scored from a clear chance but Logan Stretch lived up to his name with a low dive and hold to thwart a diagonal drive. Gradually, however, the hosts began to offer a threat but at 1/4-time Owen Devonport's promising, pacy counter was ended by a Phillips foul. In a Hereford attack ex-Merthyr forward Cox fired from 19 yards but over the bar and at the Railway End in the 38th minute Buxton took the lead in a most surprising fashion. Visiting and ex-Buxton 'keeper, Theo Richardson, is still regarded at the Tarmac Silverlands as one of NLN's top stoppers but he failed to hold onto a fiercely-struck Ashton Mee free-kick and, quick as a flash, striker Sisa Tuntulwana tapped home. Three minutes later the scorer went to double his tally, but his 20-yards, powerful effort curled over the far angle while, from a floated Kirby free-kick, Kieran Burton's far-post header lacked sufficient power to beat Theo.

Buxton improved further after half-time and within 5 minutes had added to their scoring prospects by introducing attacker Max Woltman in place of left-back Liam Brockbank as the hosts relied on a back 4. After Skinner headed over for 'the Bulls', the hosts made several unconverted chances. From a Kirby cross, Burton's overhead kick passed wide, a flowing move set up Sisa, but his shot was wayward, then from a Kirby corner-kick Devonport's clever header passed wide.

After the loss of Kirby, Will Trueman took over his role in midfield and ‘the Bucks' continued to mount flowing attacks but without reward, though substitute Woltman looked an immediate threat. However, in the 78th minute, the visitors were highly fortunate to be not reduced to 9 men as substitute and Cheltenham loanee, Tustin, was guilty of a reckless lunge on Trueman that, from a side-on view, seemed to have all the criteria necessary for a red card but referee Veiga contented himself with a yellow.

Then, in a rare 'Bulls' attack, a Burton foul on Tustin gave Skinner a 92nd-minute opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot and, expertly, he made no mistake, much to the delight of the hundreds of travelling fans. Yet Buxton re-doubled their efforts and in the 8th of 10 added minutes an inspired Sisa diagonal attacking run set up a Woltman shot that was parried by Theo only for Sisa to net the winner.

A resilient, entertaining display had produced a 4th consecutive home win for the new management team ahead of next Saturday's visit to Southport (k.o.3p.m), the 'Sandgrounders' having lost their opening fixture 1-3 at newly-promoted Hebburn Town.

Bucks: Stretch; Trueman, Grist, Burton, Shaw, Brockbank (Woltman); Scales, Trueman (Cooper), Mee (Johnston); Tuntulwana (Wadsworth), Devonport. Unused Subs: Melville, O’Reilly & Mantle