Buxton cement their lead with a fine display to overcome Mickleover

The victory, in front of double the usual Mickleover gate including a large Buxton contingent, was surprisingly comfortable considering Saturday’s events where Sports had enjoyed a 4-0 romp at Frickley while the Bucks’had to endure the first-half physical challenge offered by Marine.

Yet at Mickleover the Bucks’ control, once established after an even opening 25 minutes, was never seriously threatened and from about the hour mark they were virtually in total command, altogether forging enough openings to have doubled their final goals tally.

On a glorious and very warm afternoon, Buxton soon got into their stride for Alastair Taylor, cutting in from the right, to make a scoring opportunity for himself as early as the tenth minute only to shoot wide of the far post

The pattern of the match was already becoming set, with Jamie Green sending over a dangerous corner-kick and Joel Bembo-Leta similarly threatening from open play, while in the 21st minute ‘keeper Tolley watched a Brad Abbott free-kick fizz narrowly past a post.

When Sports replied, Greg Young’s timely tackle on Minott cost only an unproductive flag-kick and the Bucks were soon back on the attack with Bembo-Leta, Taylor and Bradley Grayson combining effectively on the right but the striker’s head-high, driven cross evaded all.

However, it was Grayson, with his third goal in three games, who opened the scoring in the 34th minute with another convincing finish.Kegan Evrington’s 20-yard diagonal ball put the marksman in behind the defence and after rounding the keeper he slotted home carefully.

The lead could have been doubled before half-time, notably when Abbott’s through pass again freed Grayson and home player-manager McGrath and Tolley all but got in one another’s way before the keeper grabbed the ball.

The introduction of substitute Nicky Walker soon paid attacking dividends with his close-range shot rebounding from Tolley after Grayson’s low pull-back from the byline set him up.

The largely youthful Sports’ outfit, including ex-Silverlanders Tom Burgin and Jack Broadhead, by contrast made little impact on the, as usual, sound visiting defence which has conceded just three goals in six matches.

An exception was Dales working a promising one-two but his low cross from the right was cut out and the Bucks’ attacked again with Joel Bembo-Leta’s powerful advance on the right forcing a corner before the advantage was at last doubled in the 72nd minute.

The right-back drove forward once more, setting up Abbott’s pass to Doran whose low diagonal drive took a slight deflection on its way to the far left corner of the net.

With Mickleover’s resistance wilting, Buxton’s third goal some eight minutes later came as no surprise.

A concerted move on the right began with an accurate Danny Burns pass to Doran and after the advancing Abbott had been knocked over at the edge of the penalty area, he recovered to take a pass from Jamie Jackson and net with a low cross-shot.

Even then the Bucks weren’t content and Bembo-Leta’s inventive penalty area pass was close to creating a last scoring chance for Walker.

Such good form will certainly be needed in next Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Division One (South) leaders, Witton Albion.

Buxton: Budtz; J Bembo-Leta, Burns, Young, Green; Taylor (Walker 52), Ravenhill, Abbott, Doran; Evrington (F Bembo-Leta 85); Grayson (Jackson 77).

Unused subs: Lucas, Milner.