Buxton 2
Nantwich Town 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Premier Division
Saturday 4th September.2010

BUXTON 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
Kieran Lugsden. 38.69 Michael Lennon. 27
Buxton: Hartley. Black (c). Wilde. Wilcox. Liversidge. Maxfield. Stevens. Towey. Reed (Hunter 90 + 4). Lugsden. Ridley: Substitutes: Morris. Hunter. Askey. Jackson. Backhouse.
Nantwich: Chapman. McAnulty. Jack (Aaron Carter 49). Whittaker (c). Tinson. Carr. Parkes. Blackhurst (Mahmoud 67). Carter (Madeley 75). Lennon. Blake. Substitutes: Madeley. Aspinwall. Robinson. Carter. Mahmoud.
Referee: Mr M. Thorley. Stockport.
Attendance: 359.
With key players sidelined for the 5th successive match joint managers Kevin Street and Darren Tinson were left to plan a further unfamiliar line up and have yet to be in a position to select the same starting eleven two matches running.

Buxton took an early command of the game winning a first minute free kick followed shortly after by a corner that was cleared by Nantwich captain DAVE WHITTAKER. Meanwhile, ‘Bucks’ striker KIERAN LUGSDEN was proving a handful for the ‘Dabbers’ defence and were it not for the offside flag in the 5th minute would have been clean through on goal. A foul on Nantwich midfielder MICHAEL CARR provided Nantwich with their first free kick of the game but the ball was returning too quickly and too often for comfort and at times Nantwich were struggling to clear their lines.
Despite the early pressure Nantwich were looking to get forward quickly and were successful in winning back to back corners but SCOTT HARTLEY was quickly off his line on both occasions to pull off comfortable saves each time. In the 10th minute, CARR was again fouled in the middle of the park and from the resultant free kick WHITTAKER found MICHAEL LENNON in space whose response ended with a shot that fizzed close to the far post before going out for a goal kick. At the other end, DARREN TINSON cleared Nantwich lines from a Buxton corner whilst a foul on RODNEY JACK, who at the time was beavering away in the unfamiliar left back position to good effect, led to a free kick that saw GLYN BLACKHURST, making his first appearance of the season following injury, put LENNON through on goal from short range but LENNON’S response was weak leaving HARTLEY to gather with ease. In a further Nantwich move CARR drove over the bar from an angle whilst at the other end JACK came to the rescue following a free kick conceded by former youth team player TOM PARKES. A 20th minute foul on ‘Dabbers’ midfielder KYLE BLAKE saw a WHITTAKER free kick cleared but Nantwich were beginning to look a greater threat after a nervy opening and, following a torrid piece of Buxton defending in the 27th minute, LENNON’S persistence, after PARKES had initially flicked the ball into his path, saw LENNON collide with HARTLEY before lifting the ball past the ‘Bucks’ No.1 to put the ‘Dabbers’ ahead.
On the half hour, Nantwich produced a very promising looking attack involving half a dozen players that broke down only after LENNON’S attempted cut back from the bye line was interrupted by Buxton captain GRANT BLACK. Moments later CARR picked out LENNON 10 yards from goal but, despite a first time connection, the shot lacked power and failed to trouble HARTLEY. However, despite that purple patch, defensive frailties once again proved the undoing of Nantwich and when Buxton surged forward in the 34th minute KIERAN LUGSDEN was presented with a gift as CHAPMAN stood rooted some 8 yards off his line and with no defensive cover on duty either the ‘Bucks’ No.10 responded by flicking the ball over CHAPMAN to level the score.
However, Nantwich were quick to recover their composure and were it not for the agility of HARTLEY an excellent centre from BLAKE in the 42nd minute could easily have found the far corner of the net whilst at the other end, CHAPMAN did well to hold ‘Bucks’ striker MARK REED’S centre that dipped menacingly toward the goalmouth. Moments later, play was suspended for around five minutes following a hip injury to JACK after he sustained a brutal kick during a challenge for the ball. Unable to continue, the makeshift left back was stretchered off to be replaced by Aaron Carter who returned from Witton Albion on Thursday after joining them from Nantwich during pre season.

HT: Buxton 1 v Nantwich Town 1
The second half began in similar fashion to the first but following a CARR booking in the 53rd minute BLACK tested CHAPMAN with a vicious looking inswinger from a free kick that the Nantwich ‘keeper did well to hold. On 63 minutes CARR – LENNON and BLAKE combined to eventually set up LENNON who responded by firing wide of the target. Moments later, a high ball into the Buxton 6 yard box was claimed by HARTLEY right in front of LENNON followed by a well placed centre from BLACKHURST that was seized by HARTLEY when standing on his line. But for all their valiant efforts, Nantwich once again displayed naivety in defence when, in the 69th minute, LUGSDEN took advantage of a weak left sided challenge and with CHAPMAN once again caught off his line had the easiest of tasks to score his second goal of the afternoon leaving the ‘Dabbers’ with an uphill task.
Nantwich made changes that saw midfielder BLACKHURST make way for OMAR MAHMOUD on 69 minutes followed by SAM MADELEY who replaced ASHLEY CARTER in attack in the 75th minute. Meanwhile, Buxton finished strongly during which LUGSDEN was denied a hat trick when his 80th minute goal bound looking shot cannoned off the legs of WHITTAKER for a corner before the match then came to a halt due to a heavy challenge on CARR that resulted in the battling midfielder eventually having to retire leaving the ‘Dabbers’ to complete the game with 10 players. PARKES received a booking in added time for a heavy challenge on Buxton left back JOSH WILDE whilst for the hosts LUGSDEN was cautioned for a challenge on ‘Dabbers’ young right back LEE McANULTY.
FT: Buxton 2 v Nantwich Town 1

Match report written by Ashley Houghton