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| Skinner Celebrates |
Buxton FC v Hereford FC in the Enterprise National League North.
Following the encouraging performance, win and solid clean sheet in the final pre-season friendly at The UK Electrical Stadium against Bromsgrove Sporting last Saturday the Bulls headed to The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium to face Buxton FC on the opening day of the season in the Enterprise National League North.
Kyle Howkins was suspended following his sending off against Marine AFC at the end of last season and Lewis Hudson was missing after going off at Bromsgrove. Harry Tustin who had returned on a season long loan from Cheltenham Town in the week was on the bench as was new loan signing announced yesterday until January Harrison Iwunze from Notts County with the Bulls looking to back up the victory against the Rouslers in the final pre-season friendly. There was a minutes applause prior to kick-off to honour Buxton's Charlie Cresswell, a much-loved member of their backroom team and Keith Chamberlain who served on the Bucks committee and Social Committee who both sadly passed away recently.
Hereford started on the front foot with early possession and a cross by Keziah Martin from the left found Cawley Cox but his flicked header whistled wide of the left post.
After 7 minutes the Bulls had the best opening, Cawley Cox playing a ball across to Luke Spokes inside the box who's low left foot drive produced a strong left handed save from the Bucks goalkeeper Logan Stretch who's on a season-long loan from Sheffield Wednesday.
The Bucks’ first chance came from a free-kick 10 minutes in near the left corner, Connor Kirby lofted the ball which was headed away by Aaron Skinner.
20 minutes in and Buxton we're starting to get a bit more possession with long throws from Ben Grist particularly giving them some territory in the Bulls half but Hereford held firm.
The first yellow card of the game came on 23 minutes when Ashton Mee went in for a strong tackle on Kam Kandola midway inside the Hereford half.
Bulls’ first free-kick was in a dangerous position on the edge of the box on the right, Martin swung the ball in left footed but it went straight into the wall.
There was then a loose ball by Bill Phillips inside the Hereford half gifted the ball to Sisa Tuntulwana who went on a run towards the Bulls box but fortunately he shanked his effort high over the bar.
The Bulls next chance came from Cawley Cox after just over half an hour gone who tried his luck from 30-yards out which went just over the bar.
Buxton opened the scoring on 38 minutes after a free-kick on the right side of the box was fizzed in by Connor Kirby which Theo Richardson fumbled falling right to Sisa Tuntulwana who tapped in for a soft goal to concede from a Hereford point of view.
The Bucks striker then had a wild effort from the edge of the box which was high and wide before Aaron Skinner delivered a good ball from the right hand side of the box towards the back post which Jordan Williamson managed to get his head to which looped over the bar.
It was a half where Hereford started well but the hosts grew more into the half as it wore on with the fortunate strike being the difference between the two sides.
Half-time: Buxton FC 1-0 Hereford FC
Into the second-half and Preston Bitemo had the first opportunity for Hereford from the edge of the box who's first-time shot was high over the bar before a free-kick on the right hand side of the area, Spokes took it finding Aaron Skinner who managed to get his head to the ball which fizzed narrowly wide of the target.
The Bucks first chance of the second 45 came from a corner on the left, Kirby delivered high towards the back post which was well cleared by Keziah Martin.
Sisa Tuntulwana was then afforded too much room on the edge of the box on the right but his shot was high and wide before Kian Scales went down inside the box after he appealed that Kam Kandola had brought him down but the referee waved the appeals away.
Much like towards the end of the first-half Buxton had started with a lot of the play but Hereford we're containing them well. On 56 minutes Jordan Williamson was replaced by the returning Harry Tustin.
On 64 minutes the Bulls’ task was made difficult after Preston Bitemo went in for a challenge on Connor Kirby which sparked a melee between both sets of players, Bitemo was shown a straight red card whilst Kirby was taken off on a stretcher and an ambulance called. Hopefully the Bucks midfielder is ok and wish him a speedy recovery.
Keziah Martin then made way to be replaced by Harrison Iwunze to make his debut for the Bulls.
Buxton’s next opportunity came when we allowed the ball to bounce around inside the box before Adam Barton flicked the ball goalwards with a header which Theo Richardson eventually collected before a good chance for Hereford to draw level when Harrison Iwunze flicked the ball into the path of Cawley Cox who tried to lift the ball over Logan Stretch but he couldn't make a clean connection and the ball fell comfortable wide.
Harry Tustin went in for another challenge on Josh Shaw which resulted in another melee and one of the Buxton players kicking the ball at the Bulls midfielder, Tustin received a yellow card. From the resulting free-kick midway inside the Hereford half Will Trueman launched the ball towards Adam Barton who flicked the ball on towards Max Woltman but his header was comfortably collected by Theo Richardson.
On 82 minutes and great opportunity for Hereford to get back on level terms when Liam Roberts fizzed a great ball across the face of the box but no yellow shirt was on the end of it followed by Buxton's Sisa Tuntulwana who ran onto a ball for the hosts on the left side of the area but dragged his shot wide of the right post.
On the stroke of 10 minutes of additional time being announced in the first minute Aaron Skinner was brought down for a penalty inside the box by Kieran Burton, Skinner stepped up and calmly sent Logan Stretch the wrong way slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner to equalise.
Afterwards Billy Phillips was replaced by Danny Waldron before deep into second-half stoppage time there was late heartache for the Bulls on 98 minutes with Buxton grabbing a winner in cruel fashion, Sisa Tuntulwana was allowed to run from the half-way line to the edge of the Bulls box before playing the ball across to Max Woltman who got his shot away which was palmed away by Theo Richardson but only straight into the path of Tuntulwana who couldn't miss to grab his brace.
Full-time: Buxton FC 2-1 Hereford FC
Goal scored by Aaron Skinner from the penalty spot
Hereford FC Starting XI:- 1 Theo Richardson, 2 Aaron Skinner, 4 Kam Kandola ©️, 5 Will Merrett, 7 Keziah Martin, 9 Cawley Cox, 14 Luke Spokes, 15 Jordan Williamson, 18 Liam Roberts, 20 Preston Bitemo, 23 Billy Phillips.
Substitutes:- 8 Harry Tustin, 10 Danny Waldron, 19 Harrison Iwunze, 21 Ollie Lewis, 24 Jack Tolley, 25 Harry Jones.
Attendance 1502
Hereford started the game on the front foot but as the first-half wore on they came more into it and held the slender lead at the break. The second-half after Preston’s red card it was difficult but the Bulls still kept the Bucks at arms length and in a game where we could of taken a point which we certainly would of taken but it wasn't to be, gutting to concede in the dying embers of the game which we didn't deserve but that's football sometimes.
The second game of the season and first back at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium for the Bulls next with the visit of Marine AFC. COYW
Words: Sam Cummins