Buxton boss Gary Hayward keen to kick on after FA Cup exit to Stafford

The Bucks were beaten 4-2 on penalties after the tie had finished 0-0 after 90 minutes.

It capped a frustrating day at Silverlands in front of 401 fans who watched a game dominated by the home side.

“We have got to galvanise the squad with our week off,” he said.

“We have got injuries and we need to get in the market and find a couple of players.

“We need to work on a few things and keep them going again.”

Lewis King was Stafford's hero as he twice saved penalties in the shoot-out to send his team through.

He set the standard by saving Diego De Girolamo’s spot kick, before Cieron Keane blazed over.

King then saved a weak effort from Sam Wedgbury to ensure Stafford’s progress.

It was a defeat which left Hayward feeling a little hard done by.

“We didn't do much wrong,” said Hayward. “We did really well and I feel sorry for the lads.

“Penalties are a lottery as we know and I'm very disappointed to be out.

“Stafford defended resiliently, but if it was a boxing match it would have been stopped ages ago. We gave it a right go, fair play to Stafford.”

“We had all the play, it was definitely a penalty on Tommy Elliott, the ref got it wrong.

“At the end of the day it went down to penalties, they scored more and that's the end of it.”

Buxton travel to Stalybridge at the weekend, followed by a midweek home game against Scarborough, as they look to return to winning ways following a run of two defeats.

But their game against Morpeth Town on 17th October is now off after a Morpeth player tested positive for COVID.

Meanwhile the club have bolstered their squad with a number of academy prospects agreeing first team contracts.

Kyle Campbell, Ewan Catt, who made his first team debut in the FA Cup victory over Belper Town, Connor McMillan , Jack Dillingham and Cameron Wallace join Casper Nicholson in signing on.

Ex Bournemouth left-winger James Oliver, who played for Poole on loan last season, has also signed.