Phillips stays in positive mood despite heavy defeat

Paul Phillips wasnt critical of his players after the 4-0 loss at Scarborough Athletic.

Two goals in each half earned the hosts the points but Buxton were left feeling hard done by following some controversial refereeing decisions which played a big part in the game.

And that, combined with an overall encouraging display, left joint-manager Phillips with mixed feelings afterwards.

He said: “We were disappointed with the first-half display but in the second we played really well, it was just one of those games where if we’d played forever we wouldn’t have scored.

“We never gave up and we worked hard, and there will be games this season where we’ll play much worse and win.

“The game hinged on some crucial decisions that I felt the officials got wrong.

“The penalty for their second goal was simply the lad falling over his own feet, which their manager readily admitted was the case, but the ref was on the wrong side to see clearly.

“Then we should have had one ourselves in the second-half but we didn’t get it, which would have changed the game if we’d got it back to 2-1.

“We can’t blame the ref entirely as we conceded four goals but it’s disappointing.

“Nothing should also be taken away from Scarborough who are a very good side with some experienced players.

“But I’m not mad at our players at all. It’s just one of those days and we have to brush ourselves down and get ready for Saturday.”

From facing the top of the league side in midweek, Buxton prepare to host bottom-of-the-table North Ferriby United on Saturday.

They will be looking to avoid a repeat of the result when they faced the then bottom side Lancaster City at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium last month, which saw the Bucks lose 3-1, and Phillips is keen to see the mentality of his players be the right one to win the game.

He said: “Ferriby have changed their manager so you never know what the reaction will be from that. We’re not sure if it’ll still be a caretaker in charge or a permanent manager by Saturday but either way, they ‘ll be looking to prove a point.

“So we have to be prepared for that and not underestimate them at all. Lancaster have had some good results since beating us so it shows how things can change.

“These are the kinds of games you have to win if you have aspirations of being at the top of the table so we have to go into it in the right frame of mind.

“If we show the same enthusiasm and work rate as we did at Scarborough then we can win the game.”

Phillips added that the inability to name a consistent side due to injuries has been a source of frustration but that he still believes results should come.

He added: “We’ve had several key players missing but the squad we have means we can’t really use that as too much of an excuse on the day, but it would be good if we can get a consistent and quality line-up each week.”

Buxton travel to Hednesford Town next Tuesday night, while they have also been drawn to play Southern Premier League side King’s Lynn Town at home in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, October 27.