Buxton 2-0 Nantwich: match report

A brace from Lee Morris sealed the points for the hosts, with both goals coming inside the opening ten minutes.

The Bucks had plenty of chances to increase their lead throughout the remaining 80 minutes but failed to inflict further punishment on the visitors from Cheshire.

Martin McIntosh made two changes to the side which lost to Stamford in the previous game. Jamie Green, returning after concussion, and Tim Ryan came in to the side at the expense of Charlie Johnson and the suspended Jack Broadhead.

It wasn’t long before the Bucks got into their stride. Morris opened the scoring after just two minutes when he cut inside and fired a shot beyond Nantwich stopper Terry Smith to seal his eighth strike of the campaign.

The goal was a huge confidence boost to the hosts who kept the momentum up when they doubled the lead on 10 minutes.

Morris slided in to finish off a good move down the left flank, after Craig King cut inside and provided the cut-back.

The two goals knocked the stuffing out of Nantwich who looked vulnerable at every Buxton attack.

Steve Istead then meandered through the visitors’ defence only to see his long-range effort just clear the post on 15 minutes.

Max Harrop then fired a warning shot with a dipping effort that came back off a post before Oliver Devenney saw his effort from a similar distance tipped around a post by Andy Warrington.

Matt Thornhill then volleyed an effort straight at the goalkeeper in the final effort of the half.

Buxton began the second period as they ended the first, with efforts flying in on the Nantwich goal.

Ash Palmer saw a header cleared off the line before King’s piledriver flew just wide of the right-hand post.

Morris then went in search of his treble when he cushioned a pass from Niven before turning and hammering a shot straight at Smith.

Further efforts came from Thornhill, with a rasping effort, and Niven, who weaved through the Nantwich defence before his shot crept just wide of the post, but the Bucks could not increase their two-goal winning margin.

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