Buxton secure home play-off tie with comfortable win

Beforehand, the Bucks had known that a win versus the already-relegated Leamington would guarantee a play-off place but the bonus of draws for Scarborough and Chester lifted them to a finishing position of fifth in NLN, with a coveted home tie to follow.

The hosts dominated throughout versus opponents whose grit, determination and some good fortune kept the home score down to four and the only setback to Buxton's dominance came in first-half added time when ex-Silverlands loanee midfielder, Max Brogan, out of the blue, halved the hosts' two-goal lead with a 25-yard power-drive into Joe Young's top left corner.

Initially playing towards the Ashwood End, the Bucks were soon taking shots at goal that eventually numbered 20 in the first half.

Connor Kirby, who had been presented with a cased shirt to mark his recent 200th BFC appearance, put a 20-yard ground shot wide then, following a goalkeeper passing error, the captain set up Cian Coleman, but his effort cleared the target.

However, Kirby did open the scoring in the 11th minute from a quite centrally-placed free-kick 19 yards out, his powerful drive deflecting off a defender to go in by a post.

Winger Connor Douglas was next to threaten, cutting in to fire a fierce shot that 'keeper Brearey saved at the expense of a corner-kick, while from a passing move involving Kirby and Coleman, Johnny Johnston screwed his ground shot wide.

Pressing hard for a two-goal lead close to the half-hour, Kirby blasted another 20-yard free-kick flush against the bar.

A doubling of the advantage seemed inevitable, though it came from an unexpected source. The in-form Will Trueman, making his 76th appearance, scored his first BFC goal in superb style, finding the far top corner from 15 yards as Douglas cut the ball back to him.

The Brogan goal left the Bucks with a minimal advantage but it took only four second-half minutes to double it again.

Kirby, as ever at the heart of his team's creative play, fed Johnston with an accurate through-ball that the striker converted from 18 yards via the 'keeper's diving body.

Buxton's attacking was so inventive and entertaining, producing a fourth goal just past the hour. Trueman provided the assist for Luke Brennan, who netted with a fine, low, diagonal finish just inside the far post.

All five home substitutions were made but the one to excite the 'faithful' was the return, after his three-months injury absence, of top scorer, Tai Sodje, for a quarter-hour cameo.