Buxton FC 3-2 Stocksbridge PS - match report

Goals from Craig King, debutant Spencer Harris and Derek Niven ensured the Bucks made it seven points from a possible nine away from the Silverlands.

The visitors started the game the brighter with Grant Black whipping in a free-kick to which Mark Reed, on his first start of the campaign, misdirected a header.

The pressure from Buxton continued and the first goal of the night arrived after just 10 minutes.

King cut in from the left onto his right foot and lashed an effort into the top corner.

Matt Thornhill then fired a shot across the face of the Stocksbridge goal in a signal of the Bucks’ attacking intent.

Steels then had their first chance of the evening when Will Senior’s effort flew just wide.

The home side were then made to pay for their profligacy when Buxton made it 2-0 on 24 minutes.

Black delivered a dangerous corner from the left which was met with a powerful, precise header from new man Harris.

Within minutes however, the Bucks’ concentration lapsed momentarily as Nathan Joynes flicked the ball home after a free-kick was plunged into the area.

Buxton then recovered from the setback to restore their two-goal cushion with Derek Niven’s blistering shot making it 3-1.

Steels rarely looked like troubling the scoreline thereafter until a foul by Black in the box led to a penalty for the hosts.

Joynes dispatched the spot-kick to halve the deficit and in a frantic final few minutes only an acrobatic overhead kick under his own bar from Ash Palmer ensured the three points for Buxton.

Buxton: Warrington, Black, Palmer, Harris, Green; Thornhill, Niven, Istead, Dean (Stevens); Reed, King.