Cup win gives boss selection headaches at table-topping Buxton

An excellent 5-1 Derbyshire Senior Cup quarter-final victory against South Normanton Athletic on Tuesday night gave Buxton manager Martin McIntosh food for thought as he ponders his team selection for two important home games in four days.
Buxton manager Martin McIntoshBuxton manager Martin McIntosh
Buxton manager Martin McIntosh

Buxton, who went top of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division with a 4-2 win at Halesowen on Saturday, remain unbeaten at home and on Saturday take on Hednesford Town with Stafford Rangers the visitors on Tuesday.

“I thought we were really good throughout on Tuesday,” said McIntosh.

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“We had quite an experienced side – quite a lot of first teamers mixed with some lads from the development squad, who also performed very well.

“I was delighted with the performance and the result.

“It does give me a bit of a selection problem, which is great for any manager, and it’s something I will look at Thursday and Friday. We have so many players available, hungry, and wanting to play.

“We are now looking forward to Saturday. Being top of the league we are there to be shot at. But we go into it having won three matches on the trot.

“We are confident, as we always are at home, and we could do with a good crowd to get us going.”

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Buxton progressed to the DSC semi-final for the first time in five years with the comprehensive 5-1 victory over their plucky Step 6 East Midlands Counties opponents, who never ceased to push forward and certainly earned their very late consolation goal.

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There were also any number of excellent individual performances by Buxton players.

Brad Abbott, back for his first game in nearly a month, and the quietly efficient Fabrice dictated the play from centre midfield while Sam Brooks, in his first full appearance of his second spell, hit several superbly accurate long passes to feed classy, penetrative wingers Niall Doran and Billy Hasler-Cregg, who created regular openings for the lively twin strikers.

This expansive Buxton display was built on a two-goal lead,both directly from free-kicks, established in the opening 11 minutes.

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After veteran visiting, ex-Mickleover centre-back Strzyzweski had headed narrowly wide, Abbott scored from 20 yards.

He simply picked his spot as keeper Mansfield was slow to organise, and five minutes later the keeper was embarrassed again, this time by Brad Grayson, whose sweeping, low shot from the left squeezed under him.

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Undaunted, Athletic winger Bartley shot wide from seven yards while Crosby on 20 minutes forced his way to the by-line but no touch could be applied to his fierce pull-back.

Meanwhile, recent signing Hasler-Cregg was showing fine control and pace down the Buxton right and his fine pass all but played Grayson in.

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On the opposite flank, Abbott and Doran set up Grayson for a low shot parried by Mansfield, but it was Hasler-Cregg who made it 3-0 on 32 minutes, cutting in from the right to net with a crisp low shot.

Further home attacks pre-interval came close to more goals but were denied by dogged defending.

The pattern of the tie resumed unchanged with visiting player-manager Leighton shooting wide under pressure from Matty Williams but seven minutes in Grayson made it 4-0, netting at the second attempt as he profited from Billy’s fine pass.

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The resilient visitors then had their best spell but remained out of luck.

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Crosby again fired across the face of goal, two corners were forced and Fell hit a post before Buxton responded with another clinical finish to make it 5-0 at three-quarter time as Abbott’s fierce 14-yard shot found a net corner.

Home substitutes had been made, but the quality was mostly maintained with Billy in particular continuing to shine for Buxton.

But in the 89th minute the persevering Crosby netted Athletic’s richly deserved consolation.

On Saturday at Halesowen Town, the Bucks had fallen behind on 30 minutes through Anderson and suffered a massive blow a few minutes later when Brad Grayson saw red for dissent.

However, Jamie Jackson came on to bag a brace before the break and Greg Young made it 3-1 on 51 minutes.

Charlton pulled one back 20 minutes later before Jackson set up Nicky Walker sealed the win.

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