Downes reacts to red card that left Buxton skipper with broken leg

Aaron Downes, centre, at Buxton on Saturday

Aaron Downes has offered his best wishes to Buxton midfielder Connor Kirby after the serious injury that overshadowed Saturday’s match at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.

Kirby was stretchered off after a clash with Preston Bitemo midway through the second half — an incident that resulted in a straight red card for the Hereford midfielder and sparked a prolonged melee between both sets of players.

Downes was clear in his assessment: the challenge was not malicious.

He said both players “gone in for the ball” and described the injury as “unfortunate”, adding that Bitemo is “not that person” and that Hereford are “we're competitors, we have to be" but they are "not a malicious or dirty team in any way, shape or form”.

After the match, Buxton's boss Jordan Broadbent said it was a "really serious injury" for his skipper but they don't know full details yet. "It looks like a really bad one, unfortunately," he said.

On Sunday, Buxton confirmed the skipper had broken his leg in two places.

Also speaking after the match before details were known, Downes’s immediate concern was for Kirby’s wellbeing, adding: “No one likes to see that type of injury on a football pitch."

“My thoughts are with Kirby and his family,” he said. “I hope he makes a really quick full recovery.”

Downes suggested that “control was lost” in the game afterwards, making it difficult for players and staff to maintain composure.

The injury adds to a difficult afternoon for both sides, with Hereford already dealing with their own fitness issues. Their own captain Lewis Hudson faces 12–14 weeks out, while Bitemo will now be suspended pending any appeal.