Buxton HC ladies kick off season with victory

Derby started the game quickly, taking full advantage of the home side’s lethargy to score in the first minute of the game.

It gave Buxton a needed wake-up call and they worked hard to get back into the game with the young and tenacious midfield pair of Lily Whatley and Maddie Hazlehurst preventing Derby from having any room on the wings.

The experience of Nicole Roe, Hannah Collins and Kirsten Moore kept it tight in the centre of the field. Little opportunity fell Derby’s way in the rest of the first half and they were lucky that the score line remained 1-0 at half-time.

Buxton levelled in the second half when a good run and pass from Roe was slotted home by Collins on the penalty spot.

And they hit the front when Kirsten Moore smashed home at the top of the D from a long corner by Samantha Armitage.

But Buxton men’s II slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Shrewsbury II.

The Bucks started strong, setting up good passing interplay and putting pressure on the home team. Runs from the wingers Charlie Edwards and Mike Curzon saw some good attacking, however they could not create an early lead.

Shrewsbury then hit Buxton on the counter attack to hit the front.

It did not last long when Man of the Match Will Schofield picked out a cross-pitch interception, before picking out Paul Browett to score at the near post.

The second half saw more strong performances from Adam Munden and Jim Roe linking up the forward runs for Buxton.

However, it was clear the many available substitutions for Shrewsbury and lack of pre-season saw fitness issues for the Bucks.

Tiredness allowed Shrewsbury to continue their effective passing game to score two more and seal the points.

It was also a defeat for the ladies second team who went down 1-0 at Ilkeston.

Buxton started brightly, putting into practice their pre-season training, passing the ball well into space and working hard through the midfield and out to the wings.

Laura Turner took up a strong position in centre defensive midfield and started to dominate, evading opponents with excellent stick skills and pinpoint passing releasing Katie Higgins-Brown in front of her and the sister duo of Lauryn and Ellie Higgins-Brown to the left.

Ilkeston reacted well, driving the ball down both left and right wings and finding space behind the Buxton midfielders.

One such run resulted in Ilkeston penetrating the Buxton defensive D and a stray Buxton foot resulted in Ilkeston winning a short corner. The first strike hit a Buxton foot for another short corner and, this time, there was no keeping the ball out.

The rest of the half was an evenly matched affair. Debutante Bea Larvin made excellent use of her pace to run with the ball and the back line of Rebecca Perring, Emma Alexander and Bronwyn Ley repelling the Ilkeston attacks, leaving keeper Thea Whatley with little to do.