The Bucks made it four wins from four in preseason with victories over Macclesfield Town and Hednesford Town. Match Reports Below.
The Bucks are at home tomorrow night (Tuesday) against the 433 Academy and again on Friday night when Barnsley will be sending a side to the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium. Both games kick-off at 7-45.
BUXTON (1) 2 MACCLESFIELD (0) 1 ATT 320
'The Bucks' continued their winning start to pre-season in a thoroughly entertaining encounter with the re-formed 'Silkmen', who were urged on by a large travelling contingent. Placed in the NWCL's top flight,2 levels below Buxton,'Macc' nonetheless proved competitive, particularly in an end-to-end second half.
Attacking the Ashwood End goal first, 'the Bucks' immediately forced a fine double save from 'keeper Pierce as he parried shots by Ash Chambers and Tom Elliott, who soon had a free-kick tipped over the bar. However, Buxton did score in the 18th minute from a well-constructed move started by James Hurst, whose pass found the overlapping Nathan Fox on the left. His flighted, curling cross was headed down by the leaping Warren Clarke for Ash Chambers to prod home. 'The Bucks' created further openings without doubling their advantage and in the 50th minute the visiting fans showed their delight as pacy right-winger Leon Arnasalan laid on the equaliser with a squared .low delivery from close to the by-line that was turned into goal from a few yards out. Almost immediately a Tom Elliott burst allowed him to hit a post from 20 yards out but Ben Milnes soon netted from close range as a corner-kick created confusion under the bar. There were no more goals but later substitutions disrupted neither side's rhythm.
HEDNESFORD TOWN (0) 1 BUXTON (2) 3
Buxton deservedly made it 4 wins from 4 pre-season games on Saturday with a second convincing away win at parallel Central Division opposition, despite the absence of 4 front-line players (Middleton and Milnes on holiday, Dawson at a wedding and Elliott rested after Tuesday's late injury).Nevertheless 'the Bucks' showed further evidence of a pleasing, passing pattern to their play, yet for variety conjured a second goal with just 3 players involved from 'back to front'.
It was a day for players turning out versus their previous clubs : Callam Mendez-Jones and the recently-moved Reece Styche for 'the Pitmen', Matt Curley, Nathan Fox and James Hurst for Buxton, who also had manager Gary Hayward returning to his previous employers.
An 8-pass opening move showed the visitors' intent but in the first 10 minutes 'the Pitmen' had arguably their best spell of the match, profiting particularly from an overlapping full-back on the left, though it was a ball from the right which flew low and untouched across the face of goal. However, in the 11th minute Diego thundered a 19-yard free-kick, from the inside-left channel, into the far top corner.
At the other end, recently-signed ex-Kings Lynn 'keeper, Theo Richardson, had to show his quality, clawing away an accurate chip at full stretch, then saving a Cator shot with his feet, but it was 'the Bucks' who were ruthlessly clinical in their finishing as half-time approached. Theo's accurate long kick was moved on by Diego to Warren Clarke on his left and he netted crisply into the far bottom corner.
Diego was heavily involved early in the second half. An ambitious,50-yard effort cleared ex-Telford 'keeper, Wycherley, but passed narrowly wide, then he weaved skilfully into a shooting position but delayed. With his side well on top, the striker had another close-range chance, from Clarke's pass, but his low shot was saved. These misses allowed 'the Pitmen' to stay in contention and they made it 1-2 in the 73rd-minute.Theo parried a shot resulting from an interception but ex-Crewe forward, Andre Brown, fired home. By this time, trialist defenders, Akeem Hinds and Joe Cummings, were involved and did their cause no harm. Academy players, Ewan Catt (Pictured) and Jack Dillingham, entered the action late on and 3 minutes from full-time, from a Matt Curley centre, Diego netted close-in for his 6th goal in the 4 games played.