Injury-hit Buxton urged to stick together through difficult spell

Manager Jordan Broadbent is urging injury-hit Buxton to stick together while players are nursed back to full fitness.

The Bucks snapped a run of three straight defeats by coming back from goals down at half time to draw 2-2 at home to Worksop Town last weekend.

It was a point that leaves them side tenth in National League North, a point shy of the play-off frame, and with the potential to push much higher if they can get back to something like full strength.

Defender Sammy Robinson is just one of the injury casualties having to be eased back after his appearance as a substitute at the weekend.

“We have missed Sammy so much,” said the manager. “He is 24 years old but he carries himself like a man and he is, at 24, one of our senior players. As soon as he came on we had a bit of seniority on the pitch and a voice.

“We can’t expose him to 90 minutes, because I don’t want to lose him again. We are nursing him back and if I’m honest we are nursing a few of the players back.

“Across the course of the week can’t get the load into them that we want because we are dealing with so many injuries at this moment in time and we are having to protect players.

“It’s a period we’ve got to get through. We have to stick together.”

The Bucks were poor in the first half against Worksop.

Some stern words in the dressing room led to an improvement and they pulled a goal back just before the hour mark when captain Kieran Burton headed in from Max Woltman’s corner.

The comeback was completed shortly afterwards when a long throw from Sisa Tuntulwana fell to the feet of Sheffield Wednesday loanee Devlan Moses to level.

“In the second half we were very good. We defended the box well and attacked their box well. We had a reaction,” said Broadbent.

“There is no getting away from how poor the first half was. It’s not the standard I want at the football club. It’s not the standard we expect at this football club and we let the boys know that at half time.

“We were more front-footed in the second half and won a lot more duels and second balls against a very good Worksop team who are a bunch of men. They pick up on second balls and play around corners, they attack the box with intent and they do the basics very well.

“We are so stretched with injuries and the balance was quite right. I accept that.

“People have had to play in positions which are not really their positions.”

Next up on Saturday (3pm) is a trip to Chorley - level on points with Buxton - before a visit from Harborough Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Meanwhile, Kieran Burton’s display against Worksop has earned him a place in the Enterprise National League Team of the Week.

Buxton have been drawn away to Belper United in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.