League Two Cheltenham prove too strong for Buxton in the FA Cup

The Bucks stood just 45-odd minutes from joining the biggest clubs in the third-round draw for just the second time in the club's near 150-year history.

Cheered on unceasingly by the 500-plus travelling fans in the away end, the visitors led twice to reach the interval a goal up by virtue of taking the game to the hosts, and the scale of the defeat can partly be explained by 'the Bucks' continuing to push forward in numbers after falling behind.

A strong Cheltenham side gifted the Bucks the lead on 13 minutes, as Scott Bennett’s error on the ball while deep in defence allowed the ever-alert, predatory striker, Tai Sodje, to snatch possession and net confidently from ten yards past the unprotected 'keeper, Joe Day.

The early Buxton goal set up a wonderfully competitive opening half, impeccably refereed by the experienced Charles Breakspear.

Winger Luke Brennan was clearly the outstanding first-half Buxton player. Time after time he created openings for team-mates, while his dangerously creative counterpart, Jordan Thomas, was frequently the mainspring of home attacks as the tie's early excitement was maintained.

The latter, in response to the Buxton goal, delivered a curling effort just outside the angle of post and bar, then Joe Young was forced into a fine save after a Thomas pass made the opportunity, while George Ward did notable defensive work early in an overall excellent display.

Then, midway through the first half, a curling Brennan free-kick, directed towards the far post, created a heading opportunity for Max Bardell that went close.

However, the hosts equalised in the 29th minute as Adelakun's penetrative short-range through-ball set up Hutchinson for a measured finish.

Naturally there was some anxiety that 'the Robins' might now dominate, but Brennan continued to be a major factor. His curling shot forced a corner-kick, then he picked out Connor Kirby for a firm header that Day spilled but gathered as Buxton threatened and the same visiting duo combined again for Kirby's shot to force another flag-kick.

The referee correctly allowed four additional minutes and almost immediately 'the Bucks' regained the lead after Sodje was fouled out on the left. Kirby delivered a superb free-kick to the far post, powerful and perfectly directed, for George Ward to head home.

Buxton started the second half with a five-man passing move that ended with a Kirby shot passing high and wide.

For 13 minutes 'the Bucks' held their lead as Cheltenham likewise continued to attack and equalised with an outrageous, match-changing piece of good fortune. Robbie Cundy had replaced Bennett at half-time and had already headed over the bar from five yards when his regulation, 18-yard shot took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Young and trickle into the net.

At the hour, the Bucks were still very much in the contest but two minutes later they fell behind for the first time to the best goal of the day. Thomas superbly controlled Adelakun's ball in from the left, turned sharply and drove home from eight yards.

Cheltenham then found the net three times in 15 minutes as 'the Bucks' continued to press forward. On 75, from Jude-Boyd's pass, Hutchinson netted his second, with a slightly-deflected, 12-yard shot and on 79 it became 5-2 as substitute Archer netted from a right-flank cross following a rapid break.

As Buxton battled to the end, the impressive Thomas curled an effort into the net's furthest corner to complete the scoring.