Two goals down with 15 minutes to go, the Bucks somehow pulled it back to 2-2 at the Silverlands on Saturday. Yet it was no more than they deserved after a first half which saw the Merseysiders' goal peppered with shots during periods of intense pressure.

Neil Ross was guilty of missing a hatful of these, the best a low shot in front of goal which was pushed wide by the diving hand of Andy Ralph.
Tommy Agus also tested the visiting keeper with a dipping shot to nothing from 30 yards, forcing a finger-tip save.

Marine took a shock lead midway through the first half. The Buxton rearguard was caught cold by a sweeping move which began down the right with Paul Woolcott and finished with captain Lee Parle scrambling the ball over the line.

Buxton desperately tried to respond, but Michael Towey could only fire wide and Ross saw a shot crash off the underside of the woodwork from close range.

Jason Bradley was unlucky not to equalise shortly after the restart when his shot was blocked by Adam Farley, while at the other end Hartley had to be on his toes to deny Shaun Tuck.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Bucks when Tuck was upended on the edge of the box by a clumsy tackle from Scott Maxfield, allowing Steve Hussey to calmly step-up and slot the ball past Hartley to make it 2-0.

With desperation now setting in, Buxton manager John Reed introduced Mark Balfe and James Turley in an effort to spur on his side.

The breakthrough eventually came in controversial circumstances from the penalty spot in the 77th minute, when Marine keeper Ralph was penalised for shirt-pulling during a corner kick. The decision angered the visitors, with Hussey yellow carded for his protest.

Bradley, however, was undeterred as he stroked the ball past Ralph's diving hand for his 14th goal of the season.

The comeback was complete seven minutes from time when Marine failed to clear their lines, allowing Towey time and space to pick his spot past a bewildered Ralph for the equaliser.

Buxton: Hartley, Lees, Agus, Maxfield, Anderson, Foster, Lennon (Turley), Towey, Ross (Balfe), Bradley, Walker. Attendance: 667.