27-09-22. Match report Vs Buxton FC

Carnage on the Astro floor

Report: Phil Lench

A disastrous first forty five minutes on a fresh Autumnal evening at Buxton FC saw the Harriers coming away with a hard earned and deserved point when by the forty sixth minute it seemed to be game over for us.

An injury to Nathaniel Knight-Percival, in only the second minute of the game, was the last we saw of him as he hobbled off the pitch supported by two physios. Less than thirty minutes in Ethan Freemantle went crashing face first to the 4G pitch following a crude elbow in the back of the neck and had to be subbed due to the inability to stem the flow of blood (a doctor was called for over the tannoy) and then on the stroke of halftime Joe Foulkes limped off following a foot injury when he fell badly.

So by halftime we had seen all three substitutes used up with Ben Margetson, Yusifu Ceesay and Alex Penny all coming on in that order. It got worse when, almost from the restart for the second half, Buxton scored and it looked all over for us. We were dreading anymore injuries with no way of replacing them.

A quick count up tells us that in addition to those three (Freemantle might be ok for Saturday) we also have Tom Owen-Evans, Amari Morgan-Smith, Nathan Lowe and Jack Bearne all definitely injured with Jack Tolley and Tom Leak also being possibles following absences from the bench for most of the season. Nine in total then and it’s starting to get worrying. 

We’ll know more on Saturday in the FA Cup at Cheshunt FC when we are allowed to have seven subs. I make it that we could have just fourteen fit players if we were to include the mysterious Samson Hewett. Unless we get someone in soon then we could be going with a bench of just three down in London.

Onto the game itself then. A chilly evening saw a good turn out of Harriers fans numbering around one hundred at least for a game in a place that isn’t the easiest to reach at the best of times. A first start for Gabby Rogers following some positive appearances lately was a bonus with Ceesay dropping to the bench.

Both sides started strongly but it took just two minutes for it to begin to go wrong as a battle for the ball just inside the area saw NKP go down holding his leg and in pain. Following a long treatment he was eventually helped off for Margetson to play almost a full game.

Buxton were the first to test a keeper as defender Luke Burke, on loan from AFC Fylde, tried his luck from distance but it went well over. Our first chance came from Caleb Richards from a Rogers cross into the box but their keeper, the height challenged Theo Richardson, did well to stop. We had another Rogers created chance soon after when Zak Brown latched onto a similar cross to the first but his headed flick on went wide of the post.

We then came to the second injury of the evening and this time Freemantle and the former Harriers loanee, Jake Moult, went up for the same ball in the middle of the park. Ethan got the ball but but was then sent flying forwards face first into the plastic. Following more lengthy treatment he came off with a face covered in rubber dust and blood flowing through it. There was no free kick awarded even though the referee, Richard Aspinall, had a clear view. Ethan had more treatment on the touchline but it was decided to replace him with Ceesay and soon after a doctor was called for.

The game continued mainly in midfield with both sides trying their luck without any real standout effort on goal. With six minutes added on to the half  it was just two minutes in when Joe Foulkes tried to deprive an opponent of the ball slightly clumsily. The Buxton player stayed on his feet but Joe went down, holding his ankle, as the ref brandished a yellow card. Joe tried to stand but couldn’t and need treatment too. It was obvious that he wouldn’t be out for the second half though.  

HT: 0 – 0

It was hoped that the start of the second half would see a little more luck for the Harriers but that wasn’t to be. Within a minute of the referee blowing his whistle the hosts had taken the lead, albeit with a fine, well created goal. Warren Clarke broke free down the left and crossed a low ball into the area. The ball was ignored by one striker to allow it to continue it’s run into an undefended area where Connor Kirby was lining up to fire the ball beyond the reach of Tom Palmer.

It was a heartbreaker and one had to wonder how the Reds would respond now that Buxton were in the driving seat. With the goal the home team began to gain more confidence and played the ball around neatly. At times we were just chasing shadows. 

Our only outlet seemed to be Gabby Rogers who, from distance, had two attempts on goal with the first going over the bar and the second being held by Richardson. Soon after though the goal that we didn’t think likely did come.

Ashley Hemmings collected a loose ball in the middle of the park and moved forward, and across the pitch, with it. Ceesay moved alongside of him and at the right moment Hemmings played him in and fired goalwards. His angled shot hit the post then spun back towards the goal to nestle just inside the far end.

With our tails in the air we began to gain the upperhand once again but we didn’t get it all our way. Palmer made a superb double save when a Buxton shot came looping in and he touched it onto the bar then followed up with a scrambled dive across the goal to batter the ball away from the incoming danger of another striker getting his chance of a go.

Into injury time and we should have been awarded a penalty and the chance to win the game. Zak Brown had collected the ball wide right and made his way into the area where he was about a foot inside and parallel with the eighteen yard line. From outside the box a defender put his foot in and bought Zak down but the referee incredibly gave a free kick outside the box instead.

Hemmings lined up to take it. Taking his time he weighed up the situation carefully then sent a swerving ball towards the far post and heading into the goal. Somehow the keeper got his tiny frame across and flipped it out for a corner. So close.

A minute later the game was over and a point had been won. The Harriers had come through a disastrous first half, a killer opening goal and poor refereeing at the end to gain that point and earn the applause for their valiant efforts from the travelling fans.

FT: 1 – 1

Goal for Buxton: Kirby 46

Goal for Harriers: Ceesay 68

The Harriers Online MotM is: Krystian Pearce

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Buxton FC	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Richardson
Clarke
Burke
Moult
Newton
Meikle
Hardy			68
Kirby
Boden
Sargent
Bunn
Subs:
Andoh
Granite
Gilchrist
De Girolamo
Tasdemir			68
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Palmer
Foulkes			46
Richards
Knight-Percival			2
Pearce
Byrne
Brown
Martin
Freemantle			27
Hemmings
Rogers
Subs:
Penny			46
Ceesay			27
Margetson			2
Lissimore
Hewett
Referee:
Mr Richard Aspinall
Blackpool