Buxton 1-0 Basford United (Northern Premier League) 08.02.22
United fell to defeat at Buxton on Tuesday night as a Sean Newton strike 19 minutes from time sealed the win at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.
Boss Mark Clifford gave a full debut to Notts loanee Tyreace Palmer – who impressed in the first half – as well as a start to Lewis Carr, who returned to the club earlier this month from Gainsborough Trinity.
The visitors began well, in particular Palmer who forced the first chance of the game after only four minutes.
He bullied Ben Turner aerially before laying on a plate for Paddy Webb who found himself one-on-one with Theo Richardson but fired straight at the onrushing ‘keeper.
Buxton – in indifferent form themselves of late – rallied and Chris Dawson and Turner had half-chances that may have yielded an early lead, before Jamie Ward forced Kieran Preston into the first noteworthy save; United’s number one superbly tipping over.
In a game dictated by the havocking conditions, United had Rev James gallivant forward and find Kane Richards in acres of space after 20 minutes, centre of the goal.
He set himself unopposed but could only fire well wide of Richardson’s post.
As in the reverse fixture, former Nottingham Forest, Derby and Northern Ireland winger Ward looked to be the Bucks’ catalyst on occasions and Preston, again, had to be on his toes to deny him with another excellent save just beyond the half hour.
Just before the break and the former Scotland international showed us his very best when he denied Ash Chambers from 6-yards out after good play down the left by Ward, only seconds after Webb blazed over a glorious opportunity at the other end.
Brad Gascoigne saw a deft headed nodded wide from Richards’ corner minutes after the restart and Ward – instrumental – may have had a penalty shout 10 minutes into the second half when he was felled after jinking his way through 3.
The game mellowed and despite a series of home corners that came to nothing, very little was on show to warm the 464 in attendance until the 71st minute.
Ward’s free-kick was punched clear by Preston but Matt Curley and then Dan Cowan kept the ball alive and despite a hint of offside, full-back Newton – making his debut for Buxton – shrugged off Mitch Tait and Lewis Carr to fire his new side in front.
Harsh on United who had their fair share of chances, and another opportunity came and went with 5 minutes remaining when a mass scramble from Matt Thornhill’s set piece saw the ball drop to Dom Roma who rushed his shot into the side netting and the points stayed in Derbyshire.
Buxton: Richardson, Curley, Newton, Cowan, Turner (Granite 22), Meikle, Ward, Dawson, Gilchrist, Chambers (Heaney 83), Clarke.
Basford United: Preston, Roma, Tait, Wilson, Carr, James (Wells 85), Thornhill, Palmer, Richards, Webb (Dunn 52).
Venue: Silverlands (464)
*Article provided by Marc Williams (Basford United Correspondent).
*Main image @Papapix Kieran Preston tips over from Jamie Ward.
