Buxton boss McIntosh demands better for Trophy clash

The Bucks made hard work of overcoming visiting Sutton Coldfield Town 2-1 on Saturday with late goals from Ricky Ravenhill and Joel Bembo-Leta after it looked as though the visitors could be in for a shock NPL Premier League win.

Now Buxton face the Southern Premier League Linnets, who are currently 15th in the Premier Division.

“We are at home which is a plus as we are unbeaten at home all season,” said McIntosh.

“We have played nine games and only conceded four goals.

“So we are confident at home, but our performance has got to be a lot better than it was on Saturday.

“It wasn’t a good performance by any means – I felt we scraped the win. We are not kidding ourselves and we must do better.

“At half-time I asked them for more tempo. We needed to do things quicker and just be better all round.

“There were too many players off form and we had three or four experienced lads that carried us through. They were the only ones that performed really.”

But McIntosh had praise for the Silverlands fans in the crowd of 353 who turned up the noise when needed to help their side get over the line.

“It makes a huge difference,” he said. “They really willed us on and were our 12th man. It was excellent and we really appreciate it.

“The players needed something – and I did as well. If it comes from them, then fantastic. They definitely played a part on Saturday.”

With the top four clubs all winning a home victory was imperative.

But the Bucks never got going in the first half and fell behind on 38 minutes through a Tyler Blake goal.

However, the visitors lost composure after the break with Beresford shown a red card plus six cautions for other players.

The Bucks stuck to their task and Jamie Green provided two crosses for Ravenhill, with his first strike for the club on 62 minutes, and Bembo, in stoppage time, to head the decisive goals.