Buxton make away points at Grantham and Stafford

The Bucks twice struck late to see off Grantham Town on Saturday before a goalless encounter at Stafford Rangers on Tuesday night.

It is four points off two teams fighting for their BetVictor Northern Premier League Premier Division status this season at the bottom of the table.

The points haul has put some daylight between Buxton and those teams around them also looking to climb up from the division's nether regions.

“We'd have taken four points from six just from playing on the bad surfaces really,” Hayward told the Advertiser.

“The pitches were horrendous.

“Saturday's pitch was unplayable. It took us 50 minutes to get going. Then against Stafford, it was a clay bog, we like to pass the ball but you can't do it.

“These sides know that and that's what you're up against.”

Diego De Girolamo bagged a penalty to level matters at Grantham before putting his side into the lead a minute from time. Rumenio Barai completed a 3-1 win for Buxton on the stroke of full-time.

Hayward said: “We sussed them out after half-time.

“They had the wind and scored a goal, which I wasn't happy with, down to people not doing their jobs.

“But to be fair to their scorer, he stepped in and finished it well.

“Then in the second half, we had the wind behind our backs and played to our strengths.

“In the end, we could have run out more comfortable winners.”

A quick turnaround saw the Bucks take a point at Stafford.

“The lads were a bit off it last night but the dug in and got a point, despite not being at our best,” said Hayward. “We should have really had three points.

“Jordan Nicholson's had a good chance and hit the post from four yards out. Once he gets one he'll start to get a few more.”

And concluded: “We've had two tough games against two sides who were a lot bigger than us. They were like Land of the Giants.”

Buxton welcome Curtis Woodhouse’s Gainsborough Trinity, who have won their last five league games, to the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium this Saturday (3pm).