Buxton get back to winning ways in Wales

There were surprises in the Bucks line-up with Connor Kirby, Luke Brennan and Joe Young all moved to the bench with returns for Johnny Johnston, Zac Gilsenan and Paul Cooper, who returned to the Buxton goalkeeping position for the first time in a league match since mid-October.

Merthyr were quickest out of the blocks and took the lead after six minutes when Lee Lucas unleashed a superb strike from distance that flew into the top left corner.

Sensing an opportunity to double the advantage, Jordan Garrick attempted an ambitious lob after spotting Cooper off his line, but his effort drifted wide of the target.

Three minutes later, the Bucks were level. A well-worked move down the right saw Joey Dawson deliver into the area, where Johnston finished confidently to make it 1-1. As the hosts looked to respond, neat interplay between Tom Handley and Lewys Twamley set up Noah Snerdon, yet his effort lacked power and went straight into Cooper’s arms.

Momentum continued to swing as Johnston threatened again, this time meeting a pass from Cian Coleman inside the box but firing high. Approaching the interval, Connor Douglas forced a save after the ball dropped kindly to him, with Coleman seeing the rebound blocked before Will Trueman’s low effort rolled wide.

The final opportunity of the half fell to the Martyrs, a free-kick on the edge of the area testing Cooper, who pushed it away to ensure the sides went in level.

Early in the second period Johnston’s pace caused further problems, bursting through and forcing a defender to turn the ball behind for a corner. Coleman worked the resulting set piece short and tested the keeper at the near post, prompting a sharp stop before the danger was cleared.

Shortly afterwards Lucas nearly restored the home side’s advantage, sending a strike narrowly beyond the upright.

Buxton instead took control in the 65th minute when a corner was not dealt with by the Merthyr goalkeeper, allowing the ball to be headed back across goal for Will Flint to nod home his first goal for the club.

Confidence grew among the visitors as Douglas and Gilsenan combined cleverly in the area, though Johnston was unable to connect with the final pass to extend the lead.

In the 75th minute the third arrived, Gilsenan winning possession high up the pitch and calmly placing his finish into the bottom left corner.

Merthyr pushed for a late response, but Cooper produced an important save from Callum Ryan Phillips’ header to preserve Buxton’s advantage and confirm a deserved three points. The result continues the Bucks superb away form against the top sides in the league with four victories and two draws against the top seven sides.

Bucks: Cooper; Bardell, Flint, Burton; Trueman (Ward); Douglas (McLean), Gilsenan, Coleman, Mee; Johnston (Kirby), Dawson (Brennan). Unused Subs: Young, Hill, Balfe