Grantham 0-1 Buxton - match report

Skipper Steve Istead grabbed his first goal of the campaign two minutes from time to ensure a second successive win and clean sheet for Martin McIntosh’s side.

Istead’s curling effort crept inside the far post to seal a fourth away win in the league for the Bucks.

McIntosh kept faith with the same XI that started against Nantwich, but it was only after a dour first 45 minutes that the game finally came to life.

Eight minutes after the interval the Bucks brought the best out of the impressive Grantham goalkeeper Haystead.

A Matt Thornhill free-kick was handled 19-yards and from a central position, Lee Morris’s thunderous drive was brilliantly parried to safety by Haystead.

Grantham’s best moments came midway through the second half in a three-minute spell.

Good Buxton defending kept out striker Smith’s shot, then left-winger McGhee went on a great 40-yard run past three opponents to force a fine low save from Andy Warrington only for McDonald to miss horribly beyond the far post as the rebound reached him.

Substitutes Kieran Lugsden and Neil Stevens then entered the fray for Buxton but it was McDonald’s departure which ultimately tilted the balance firmly in the visitors’ favour.

On 83 minutes the hosts were reduced to ten men when McDonald’s ugly challenge on Tim Ryan on the halfway line earned him a sending-off.

The incident proved to be the game-changer as until then both defences largely held the upper hand.

Five minutes later captain Istead struck to seal the victory and secure more away-day joy for Buxton.

Buxton: Warrington; Black, Palmer, Ryan, Green; King, Niven, Istead, Thornhill (Stevens); Morris, Osborne (Lugsden).