After two consecutive and exciting FA Cup runs, Buxton bowed out of the competition tamely at near neighbours Macclesfield (Saturday September 16), going down 2-0. It was an injury-hit side, but there was far less fight than that shown at Scunthorpe United seven days earlier, when the Bucks beat the promotion favourites 2-1, although not the referee's decision making – he abandoned that game in stoppage time, leaving the Bucks without their deserved points.
Craig Elliott, Buxton's team manager, was forced to field a weakened team against the Silkmen, starting without the services of several first-choice players including in-form Jak McCourt and Sam Osborne. Connor Brown was suspended. It turned worse during the game, as Luke Shiels, Jake Wright and Tommy Elliott departed with injuries.
Nonetheless, this performance was well below what we've come to expect and boss Craig must have shared the frustrations of the near-500 travelling fans. The Silkmen, from the Northern Premier League but with eyes firmly on joining the Bucks in the Vanarama National League North next term, scored after 30 and 77 minutes. Full Match Report HERE
The Bucks gave a debut to left-sided midfielder Tom Walker (Pictured), on loan from AFC Fylde. Tom, 27, started out aged nine in the Bolton Wanderers academy and added Stockport County, FC United of Manchester, Salford City and Harrogate Town to his clubs before joining AFC Fylde last year. Aleksander Petrovic was on the bench for the first time. The 25-year-old goalkeeper signed in midweek after training with the Bucks since the start of the season. A Serbian national who has played for several Austrian clubs, he is English by birth.
Attention turns back to the league, with a home game against Spennymoor Town on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.