Moors fell to an agonising late defeat in Buxton as The Bucks snatched all three points with a winning goal just seconds before the final whistle.
A freezing evening at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium saw the hosts score with virtually the last kick of the game, as the unfortunate Finley Shrimpton turned the ball into his own net.
Moors had opened the game looking the sharper of the two sides, with Olly Dyson and Rob Ramshaw both looking to cause trouble down the right-hand side.
A couple of half chances came and went for Buxton, first through Oli Ewing, who saw his effort routinely stopped low by Brad James, before Luke Brennan’s strike towards the near post faced the same fate just two minutes later.
Moors then won a favourable freekick 25 yards from goal, with Matty Dolan stepping up to take. The Moors number 29 struck a curled effort on goal but saw his set piece saved comfortably by Paul Cooper in The Bucks’ net.
Tommy Elliott got himself in behind on the 36th minute as he latched on to a precise lofted ball into the near side of the 18-yard box. The winger controlled the ball before attempting an effort on goal, which Brad James did well to prevent and then beat Elliott to claim.
Buxton had a real decent chance amount to nothing as Johnny Johnson darted dangerously down the far side, before swinging a ball right across the face of goal. However, Michael Ledger was there to sweep the delivery away from danger.
The game seemed to kick into life in the opening stages of the second half, as the hosts began to get on top of proceedings. A miscued clearance from Brad James fell to Connor Kirby 30 yards from goal. The Bucks man lofted an audacious effort toward the empty net as James scrambled back to position. The ball looped up, before dropping onto the upright, just about staying out of the net. A real let off for Moors.
John McGrath’s men looked to build on their early opportunity, with chances coming from all angles. Elliott looked lively again as he got onto a deep cross, but his header fell just wide of the near post.
Buxton came forward again on the 57th minute as Johnson broke free down the right, before dispatching an effort on James’ near post, which the Moors Number One was equal to, reacting well to deny the winger.
Moors tried to carve out a chance down the left, as Reece Staunton drove up field. The full-back whipped a deep cross to the far post which proved just too much for Ramshaw.
The midfielder then took aim and unleashed an effort from the edge of the area, only for it to fly well wide of the mark.
The Bucks almost found their way in front as a curling effort from Elliott flew just inches wide of the top right-hand corner.
Late chances came for both sides as Kirby spooned an effort well over before Ramshaw shanked high over the bar at the other end.
Just as the game looked set for a goalless draw, Buxton managed to find the dagger that put them in front. A ball into the far post from debutant Keziah Martin, deep into stoppage time, was unfortunately turned in by Shrimpton, sending the home crowd behind the goal into pandemonium.
A devastating defeat on the road for Moors, who should leave with their heads held high having put 110% effort into their performance, with a moment of confusion stealing a point away.
Full Time: Buxton 1 Moors 0
Moors: James, Ledger, Rowe, Pollock, Staunton, Dolan, Shrimpton, Dyson, Ramshaw, McKeown (Mondal 84), Taylor.
Subs not used: Myers, Rutledge, Simpson, Huntley.
Booked: Ledger (87).
Buxton: Cooper, Trueman, Faulkner, Mann, Williams, Kirby, Ewing, Johnson, Ellliott (Coleman 81), Brennan, Ogwuru (Martin 59).
Subs not used: Sault, White, Martin, Sangare.
Booked: Trueman (90), Coleman (90)
Referee: Kavan Hurn
Attendance: 480
Written by Noah Betts
