Top five finish pleases McGrath
John McGrath was delighted to have seen his Buxton side secure a fifth-place finish in the National League North as they prepared for a play-off battle this week.
The Bucks were due to host Scarborough Athletic on Tuesday night, after this week’s Advertiser had gone to press, with the winner of that game going on to visit South Shields on Saturday.
And McGrath told the club’s media after the 4-1 win over Leamington on Saturday that fifth place was a bonus given a top seven spot was the main priority.
He said: “The performance was really good and I thought from the off we were on the front foot.
"Leamington were already relegated but have some good players in there so we knew they pose a bit of a threat, but the focus all week was on starting brightly.
"We started the day looking at the play-off being Macclesfield away and we’ve ended up with Scarborough at home so it’s pleasing given we were away last year.
"We’ve finished in the club’s highest ever league position and hopefully we’ll have a big crowd behind us on Tuesday night.”
McGrath also hailed the return to action of striker Tai Sodje who made a substitute appearance after three months out injured on Saturday.
He said: “It’s huge to have him back. He’s been a big loss as he was our talisman before his injury and was getting lots of plaudits and rightly so from clubs in the Football League.
"We took care of him over his injury period but it’s also great credit to Johnny Johnston who took that mantle up as lead centre-forward and is on a great run of form with I think eight or nine goals in 12 or 13 games.
"So he’s in a rich vein of form and his work rate is fantastic, but to have Tai back in the changing room and training with us is a massive boost, as is having Kurt Willoughby back too.
"We’re getting them back at a really vital time in the season.”