Team - Liversedge, Leeson, Robinson, Hassan, Burgess, Craddock,
McTiernan(Owens 78), Beadle, Hackworth(c), Scott, Campbell A(Hopcutt 88). Subs not
used: Oakley, Lambert, Campbell D.
Report - by Andrew Snaith - Buxton reversed last season's home defeat by inflicting Town's second loss in four days, thanks to two classy finishes in a rainy Peak District on Saturday.
The Seasiders made just one change from the side that went down 5-0 to Worksop on
Wednesday night, with Ashley Lyth's groin injury, enabling Mark Robinson to return
at left-back.
The Bucks also suffered a convincing loss in midweek and were on the defensive again
inside nine minutes. Jimmy Beadle- Town's leading scorer last season with 15 goals
from midfield- forced Scott Hartley to tip over from a curling 25-yard free-kick.
Skipper Tony
Hackworth then outmuscled Buxton captain Gregg Anderson near the left touchline but
saw his driven cross clutched comfortably by Hartley.
Moments later, the Derbyshire club broke but Michael Towey fired way over the Whitby
crossbar. Towey was soon back in the game within seconds however, beating the
visitors' offside trap and forcing Nick Liversedge to beat away his near-post drive.
At the other end, the unlikely figure of defender Robinson ran onto a loose ball and
struck a ferocious left-foot-drive that brought another finger tip touch over from
Hartley. The hosts countered again, with a pinpoint left-wing cross nodded over by
the prolific Mark Reed, he of the 164 career goals for the Peak District side.
John Reed's men, who began the game bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier Division, were
starting to find their feet as the half wore on but it took another quick breakaway
from a Whitby attack and a fine finish to put them ahead. Four minutes before
half-time, former Harrogate and Guiseley forward Colin Hunter cut in from the right
flank and swerved a beautifully struck shot across Liversedge and into the top left
corner of the net from 20 yards.
Early in the second half, two players who clashed in the opening exchanges came
close. First, defender Grant Black exchanged passes down the right before unleashing
a fierce low drive that Liversedge did well to hold. Then, as play lurched to the
other end, Dave McTiernan fired a 20-yard shot of his own that Hartley held well on
the ground.
Around the hour mark, Robinson tried another effort from nothing, the ex-Hartlepool
man hitting an angled drive from 25 yards that just cleared the Bucks' bar. But nine
minutes later, the home side found a winner, with Town leaving Kieran Lugsden, a
playmaker pushed forward for this game, in acres of space to double Buxton's lead.
Lugsden must have been amazed as he collected a routine low ball from the left with
no defenders in sight on the edge of the Whitby area. The 24-year-old former Witton
man swiftly turned and curled a beautifully-placed shot inside the top-right corner,
giving Liversedge no chance.
Hunter rushed a first-time effort from 12 yards off-balance and well wide, before
Hackworth found himself just six yards out with his back to goal. Whitby's luck was
summed up as the ball bounced off a sliding defender and into the hands of Hartley
as he dived to cover the near post. Jamie Owens, Town's strike prodigy from Wearside
League Wolviston replaced McTiernan for the last ten minutes but was quickly closed
down and could only fire against the legs of covering opponents.
Another young forward, Jamie Hopcutt, on a month's loan from York City, again only
had a couple of minutes to show what he can do after Campbell left the field late
on. Despite four minutes of injury time, Town only threatened once more as Owens
combined with Hackworth, who hooked just over the crossbar from the edge of the
penalty area.
After the game, Blues' boss Harry Dunn was disappointed with his side's display,
pointing to a lack of shots on goal and the poor quality of balls into the box
during the second half.
