Bucks Prove Too Strong for Bees

The Bucks had a flurry of chances in the 14th minute as a long throw went through everyone in the box and was clawed out from under the bar by Elliot Taylor. The follow-up was then worked to the edge of the box and the strike was tipped past the post.

Both defences stayed strong to withhold their opposition for ten minutes, when Taylor took a short goal kick to Alex Morris, who played it straight back to the keeper. He was closed down by Johnston, who managed to block his clearance, but luckily for the Bees, the ball didn’t reach the goal.

Buxton got the opening goal of the game in the 29th minute when a cross came into the back post, which was headed back across the goal to Finn Cousin-Dawson, who volleyed it into the back of the net from point-blank range.

George Carline had his first chance to launch a throw into the box in the 36th minute, which was headed clear but was worked back into the box before referee Owen Moreton adjudged O’Sullivan to have pushed his marker and awarded a free kick.

A second Buxton defender received a booking in the 40th minute, this time it was Aston Mee after he pulled Dempsey Arlott-John down while on a counterattack.

The half was then played out in the middle of the park before the half-time whistle blew.

Mitch Austin made one change at the break, introducing Britt Assombalonga for Dempsey Arlott-John.

The first chance of the second half came for the Bucks in the 53rd minute as the ball was played across the face of goal straight to Johnston, who somehow miskicked the ball from less than a metre away from the goal and put it wide.

Tuntulwana doubled Buxton’s lead in the 64th minute after a corner was whipped in and headed in by the number nine.

The Bucks kept pushing in the 69th minute as Kian Scales won the ball back and ran the length of the pitch before his shot was deflected wide.

The Bees didn’t give up and pushed to try to get back into the game as a lofted ball was played into Josh Toluwaloju’s path and he tried to head it into the feet of Rory McAuley, but a Buxton defender got there first and booted it clear.

Buxton came back at the Bees with a swift attack, which ended with Devlan Moses, who forced Taylor into a good save down to his right.

The Bucks got their third in the 79th minute straight from a Harborough corner, which didn’t beat the first man, leading to a counterattack where two Buxton players found themselves behind the Bees’ backline and Sam Aston slotted it past a stranded Taylor.

The Bees pushed for a consolation goal when Assombalonga outmuscled the defender but curled his shot just wide of the post in the 82nd minute.

Two minutes later, Assombalonga found himself in behind the defence again but was unable to keep his shot down.

Buxton saw the last few minutes out, ending a dismal day at the highest-altitude ground in the country, sitting over 1,000 feet above sea level.

Mitch Austin was disappointed with the defeat. He said: “We should be doing better, always tough when you lose 3-0 but let’s front it, it’s a bit of a journey and it’s a tough learning curve.”

The Bees have little time to lick their wounds as they have a long trip up north on Saturday to take on Hebburn Town and will look to put this result behind them.