Diego De Girolamo at the double at Grantham for revived Buxton

Three late goals inside 13 minutes earned Buxton FC a much-needed and thoroughly-deserved 3-1 win at struggling Grantham Town.
Buxton's Diego De Girolamo took his season's goal tally to 23 with a brace in Saturday's 3-1 win at Grantham TownBuxton's Diego De Girolamo took his season's goal tally to 23 with a brace in Saturday's 3-1 win at Grantham Town
Buxton's Diego De Girolamo took his season's goal tally to 23 with a brace in Saturday's 3-1 win at Grantham Town

Grantham has been a happy hunting ground for the Bucks of late, with Saturday’s victory a fifth consecutive success in the fixture.

While it was also a fourth win in the last five away matches for Gary Hayward’s side and a second double of the season to leapfrog the Gingerbreads in the table.

Yet for 50 minutes it seemed that justice would not be done after the home side had taken a surprising lead at the half-hour mark.

Ex-Buxton loanee and Town debutant, Curtis Morrison, struck a loose ball inside the post in what was his team's first attempt at goal.

Until then the visitors had been on top in difficult circumstances, with four front-line players absent, strong winds and a bumpy pitch. Veteran striker Lee Hughes had a goal chalked out for offside and he was fortunate not to be dismissed early in the second half for an elbow into Alex Brown's face. Joel Carta also shot against the far post.

It proved a turning point as seven minutes later the Bucks had the opportunity to level from the penalty spot after a handball, which Diego De Girolamo took and netted confidently.

The belief was visible in Buxton and two close-range strikes would seize the points.

Diego smuggled the ball over the line from a corner-kick for his 23rd of the most productive season on 89 minutes before substitute Rumenio Barai netted his first goal for the club to confirm victory and renew hope of Premier Division football next season.

BUXTON XI: Shenton, Mendez-Jones, Brown, Clarke, N De Girolamo, Chalmers, A Byrne (Barai), Scott, D De Girolamo, Nicholson, Orlando-Young (Padden). Unused Subs: Harrison, K. Byrne and Allen.