FC United 1 Buxton 2 - 07.04.12

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• published: 08 Apr 2012
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Reed and Barraclough strike to move the Bucks up to 16th with victory at FC United on Saturday. Buxton supporters really do enjoy their trips to Gigg Lane. Three wins and a draw in four visits against FC United of Manchester and Saturday's 2-1 victory will live long in the memory for both the standard of the football and especially the importance of the result in terms of preserving Premier League soccer at the Silverlands. Martin McIntosh made two enforced changes to the starting eleven with Lugsden, returning from suspension, and Michael Towey in for the banned Maxfield and not fully fit Istead. The game got off to a bad start for the Bucks with FC United grabbing the lead on just 6 minutes with the first meaningful chance. The ball was cleared from inside the United half and Platt controlled the ball on the edge of the box and set up the in-form Wolfenden to net low to Hartley's left for his eighteenth league goal of the season. The Bucks hit back well and began to get on top of the match with Reed going close immediately after the goal with a free-kick and five minutes later Barraclough's snap shot was well saved by Spencer. On 18 minutes one of Marc Roberts's trademark long throws caused havoc in the United defence but Reed got the ball trapped under his feet and couldn't get his effort on target. It was Reed again who was causing the problems and he earned a penalty on 21 minutes when brought down in the box by a 'tackle' from behind by Adam Jones. Buxton's all-time leading scorer netted from the spot with ease, finding the right-hand corner with Spencer diving the wrong way. United winger Carlos Roca had a free-kick saved by Hartley and the Bucks created further chances with Lugsden having a shot saved and Josh Wilde hitting over after good work by Barraclough but the score was level 1-1 at the break. The Bucks started the second half well with another Roberts long throw causing United concern on 52 minutes with Reed unlucky with an overhead attempt and a minute later Davidson had a shot from distance saved after more good work from Barraclough. The home side started to get on top though following the introduction of substitute Mulholland and Adie Hawes had to be at his best to stop the forward bursting through towards goal on 57 minutes. The impressive United captain Jacobs was venturing forward with ease and he went close as did the left-back Lee Neville whose 20-yard shot was saved by Hartley. Chances were coming at both ends with Hawes heading a Black free-kick over for the Bucks, Roca capitalised on some poor Buxton defending, but could only half-hit a shot and Mark Reed had two good chances on 66 and 69 minutes, first having an effort cleared off the line and then heading over from a Grant Black cross. Buxton's winner came on 73 minutes when Barraclough picked the ball up on the left and cut inside, leaving FC United defenders flat-footed, and finished low to score his 11th goal in 15 starts for the club. It was a quite incredible goal and obviously now the play-off chasing United were stunned into action. Five minutes later Hartley was at full stretch to keep out a Jones header but the Bucks too were after a further goal to wrap up the points with Reed having an effort saved following good work by Neil Stevens and has the game went into injury time substitute Payne hit a weak shot after being set up by Reed. Hartley was called into action very late though, saving again at full stretch from a Wolfenden header with Neville hitting the resulting loose ball over when he should have done better.