Pre-Season Concludes And Grist Taken On Loan

Ben Grist

The Bucks are pleased to welcome defender, Ben Grist, to the Club on an initial two-month loan deal from Boston United FC. Ben signed for the Pilgrims last summer having left Leicester City.

WARRINGTON TOWN (1) 1 BUXTON (0) 2

Two late goals earned Buxton victory in the final pre-season friendly before the NLN campaign kicks off next Saturday. It's fair to say that the unfortunate cancellation of the 2 most recent fixtures had left 'the Bucks' rather lacking in match sharpness in the opening 35 minutes and how it showed with the NPL Premier outfit enjoying the better of the exchanges, particularly in the second quarter. Added to this, with 4 likely first-choice players recovering from injury, there was a distinctly makeshift look to the Buxton defence.

After a minute's silence, impeccably observed, in memory of the late Charlie Cresswell, the game began very quietly as the visitors faced a stiff breeze. Gradually, 'Wire' developed a majority of possession as 'the Bucks' struggled to build attacks out from their 5-man rearguard. The hosts, with several well-known names in their ranks, were playing well and took a 28th-minute lead. A low,25-yard, Reece Daly drive hit a post, rebounding aerially for the diving Jack Goodwin to head home in spectacular style. 'Wire' continued to press forward and only in the half's closing minutes did Jordan Broadbent's men begin to forge cohesive attacks. Johnny Johnston displayed neat footwork on the right to force a corner-kick, and the same outcome followed a move developed by Kian Scales and Will Trueman, with ex-Radcliffe 'keeper, Mateusz Hewelt, forced to punch away Liam Brockbank's inswinging delivery from the right.

 With their manager's words surely ringing in their ears, the unchanged 'Bucks' showed some improvement after the interval, but it was the introduction at the hour of Sisa Tuntulwana that transformed their attacking potential. 'J.J. had done more good work on the right and Connor Kirby had fired a 25-yard effort over the bar, but it was Sisa's pacy,40-yard gallop forward on the right flank in the 75th minute that laid on the equaliser. Max Woltman ghosted into the penalty area to convert Sisa's accurate low cross. Indeed, as had been seen against Droylsden, the versatile Sisa looks an irresistible force when attacking on the right,

However, Warrington then twice went close to restoring their lead. A home central free-kick 20 yards out was defended well at the expense of a corner-kick from which the ex-Blackpool towering striker, Ewan Bange, hit the bar with a header and a team-mate blasted the rebound over the target. Then, remarkably, into the wind and from the half-way line, a central defender planted a speculative effort against the angle.

Yet, just 4 minutes from the end, Sisa used his strength significantly in the build-up to substitute Ashton Mee striking home low and accurately into a corner of Hewelt's goal from 18 yards.

So 'the Bucks' now have a week to prepare for Saturday's home fixture versus Hereford (3 p.m), hoping for a return to near full-strength and with the senior players already in good 'nick'.