McIntosh wary of threats posed by strugglers

The Bucks host Marine on Saturday before visiting Colwyn Bay next Tuesday night, with both opponents fighting to stay in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

And having been beaten by another lower-placed side in the shape of Hyde United on Monday night, McIntosh is only too aware how tough the upcoming games will be.

He said: “Sometimes these matches can be the most difficult, particularly towards the end of the season when teams are fighting for their lives.

“Marine have picked up recently and Colwyn Bay have brought in some new players so it won’t be easy for us at all.

“It has a massive impact on clubs if they go down so their desire to stay up will be a big factor.

“The first goal is often important in these games so we need to be ready for what might be thrown at us.”

Buxton were beaten 2-1 at another side in a battle to avoid the drop, Hyde United, on Monday night. Two days beforehand McIntosh’s men had been held to a second successive 1-1 draw by Halesowen Town.

The Bucks boss said: “On Saturday I felt we were the better team overall and did enough to win the game but we conceded a poor goal. In the end, Myles Wright had to make a great save right at the end to preserve the point.

“Against Hyde we were handicapped by having Brad Barraclough out also had a couple come off unwell.

“We played well in the first-half and should really have been further ahead than 1-0 at half-time. The second-half, however, was poor and the players have been told that. We weren’t helped by the withdrawals but it still wasn’t good enough.”

McIntosh hopes to have Barraclough back for the visit of Marine and also defender Greg Young following his suspension.