Buxton vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers fielded arguably the youngest first team ever to compete in a competitive match with an average of 22 years.
Due to various reasons Gresley were without a number of first team regulars for this FA Cup preliminary round replay and manager Gary Norton had to call up some of the talented youngsters at the club.
Utility player Shaun Kidson had to fill in the centre back slot with Nathan Tate taking the left back and Matt Moran a midfield role.
Gresley started brightly and were soon putting the home side under pressure.
On 5 minutes the visitors were awarded a free kick taken by Gary White that the Buxton keeper John Scargill did well to save.
Minutes later Gresley had another chance when Liam Hebberd charged down Scargill's attempted clearnce from a chancy back pass by Jonty Wood.
However, the ball, instead of bouncing back into the net somehow went wide which summed up the run of bad luck that Gresley seem to be having at present.
On 11 minutes another free kick this time taken by Jamie Barrett shaved the bar as Gresley tried to take advantage of their early dominance.
The only real chance for Buxton came minutes later after a big punt down field by Scargill saw Caine Cheetham gallop after the ball but Mark Sheils was quick to react and cleared the ball.
Then on 19 minutes the Bucks to an undeserved lead. Gresley had been pressing the home side back but a swift break saw Caine Cheetham lay up a pass to Matt Bullock who took his chance well and slotted the ball past a stranded Sheils.
Gresley didn't let their heads go down and still pushed forward looking for an equaliser.
On 26 minutes some good play between Timms and Hebberd saw a chance for Barrett but he hit his shot wide.
A few minutes later Moran picked up a pass from Timms but his shot went wide.
Minutes before the break another free kick taken by White found Neil Kitching who unluckily put his header over the bar.
The home side came out looking far brighter than in the first period and had a couple of half chances within the first 5 minutes.
However, on 53 minutes Buxton doubled their lead with a good goal. Bullock put in an inch perfect cross from the right that Tommy Argus met with a superb header into the roof of the net.
Within 3 minutes Gresley were down to ten when Tate was shown a red card for a professional foul on Caine Cheetham who was clearly offside.
On 64 minutes Norton made the first of his changes taking off Liam Hebberd for young winger Earl Alexander.
Two minutes later a Buxton defender was forced to head over his own bar for a corner from a cross by Kitching.
Still the tide refused to turn for Gresley and on 71 minutes there was another chance. Some confusion in the Buxton box allowed Moran to get his head to the ball but it went straight into the arms of Scargill.
On 76 minutes a quickly taken free kick from former Burton Albion reserves striker Ben Goddard looked to be sailing over the bar but landed on top of the bar and bounced back into play and was cleared by the Gresley defence.
Five minutes later Sheils was called on to make a save when he blocked a shot from Mark Highfield.
Buxton were beginning to apply their own pressure on their visitors and it paid off on 83 minutes. Agus sent in a cross from the left that was met by Caine Cheetham who headed home the third goal.
Still the young Gresley side pushed forward looking for at least a consolation but was caught on the break when Jose Miranda threaded a ball through to Dave Anson who comfortably beat the advancing Sheils.
Deep into injury time Alexander hit a vicious shot that Scargill couldn't hold and the ball squirmed out of his hands and out for a corner.
Gary's view of the match
"We gave the first goal away but then went on to batter them for the rest of first half. Unfortunately we didn't put the ball away. The ball just didn't drop for us. All the players battled and worked hard.
"Nine minutes into the second half they get a throw in which was deep and they put the ball away. We've got to learn from that sort of situation.
"We played our best 45 minutes of the season so far against Bromsgrove but tonight I take heart, because I've seen more commitment, more effort and enthusiasm than in that game. We've battled for every ball all night and the lads have run their legs off.
"Nathan was sent off at 2-0 and we had to go for it. The score makes it look like we've had a drubbing but I'm proud of every single one of them out there.
"We had a centre forward playing centre half tonight and I've just said to them in the dressing room that they've given me more in these 90 minutes than they've given me all season. And, if we can start doing that week in and week out in the league then we will have no problems.
"Yes, we've got to work on things like getting the ball in the box and we need a little bit of luck. I feel that all the bad luck has been used up with the team I've had to bring here tonight.
"There's no way I'm going to have a go at my players tonight. I feel some of them have cheated me so far this season, but if I can get what they've given me tonight week in week out with the added bit of quality that we've got coming in we'll do allright.
"There could be up to 4 new faces in the squad competing for shirts and I hope that the true supporters, especially those who have been here tonight and have seen the effort and commitment from the young lads, get behind the team.
"Nathan is gutted that he was sent off and he feels he cost us the game but it's all part of his learning process.
"If the players give us the same desire, commitment and effort they've shown tonight then we won't be far off. Yes, we got beat 4-0 but I really believe this is a turning point.
"The average age of the team tonight was 22 years but I'm not using that as an excuse. We came here and gave it a go. They had more experience and a bit more quality than us and they beat us.
"The FA Cup is out of the way and now we need to start picking points up in the league.
"If the players come out of the traps like that, Stourport won't know what's hit them. I hope we can do just that."
Buxton (1) 4
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Bullock 19, Agus 53, C Cheetham 82, Anson 89
Buxton: Scargill, Pinder
, Agus, Wood, Bevan, Calvin (Bainbridge 90), Highfield, Anson, Bullock (Miranda 81), C Cheetham, Goddard (Axcell 78): Subs not used: Wood, Holmes.
Gresley Rovers: Sheils, Wardle, Tate
, Kidson, A Cheetham, Barrett, Moran, Timms (Pitt 69), Kitching (Sandar 78), Hebberd (Alexander 68), White. Sub not used: Norton.
Rovers Star Man: Liam Hebberd - worked hard.
Referee: B Coward (Chesterfield).
Attendance: 360
