It ended up being a frustrating afternoon at The Brewery Field for Moors as they were forced to settle for a point against Buxton in National League North.
The Bucks opened the scoring early in the second half through Josh Smith, before goals from Glen Taylor and Rob Ramshaw turned the game on its head – only for Tai Sodje to equalise for the visitors in the 89th minute.
Moors started the first half well, forcing Joe Young into a brilliant save just three minutes in. Corey McKeown wriggled around the edge of the area before laying the ball off to Mitch Hancox, who smashed an effort goalwards, only for Young to tip the ball over the bar.
The visitors saw their first half chance go amiss soon after through Connor Kirby, when he had his effort blocked in the area.
Young continued to deny Moors as he produced another good save to tip Glen Taylor’s header over the bar from close range in the 11th minute, before the frontman prodded an effort wide of the mark five minutes later.
Graeme Lee’s men continued knocking on the door and were inches away from a breakthrough with 17 minutes on the clock. Taylor intelligently headed the ball down into the path of McKeown inside the area, who stabbed the ball forward and off the outside of the post.
Some good reactions from Brad James prevented the visitors from going in front as he tipped Tate Campbell’s floated ball onto the bar and Moors were able to clear.
Another unbelievable save from Young denied Taylor from close range when he somehow managed to divert the big number 9’s header on goal over the crossbar and behind for a corner.
Tom Pugh whipped the resultant corner into the box, where it was met by Dan Rowe, whose downward header looked destined for the net, only for Young to yet again thwart the Moors attempts.
Buxton tried their luck from distance soon after through captain Kirby, but the ambitiousness of the set piece saw it blocked and cleared.
Taylor had a chance to snatch a goal late on when the ball fell to him in the area. The frontman volleyed an effort on goal, only for it to be deflected wide for a corner, which came to nothing.
With scores level at the break and the deadlock yet to be broken, Moors looked to replicate their pressure from the first period, however, it was the visitors who drew first blood.
Just six minutes after the restart Smith thumped home a bullet header from inside the area from a left-wing free kick, finding the top corner with his powerful effort to put his side into the lead.
It could’ve been two for John McGrath’s men just minutes later when Kirby took aim with a first-time strike from the edge of the 18-yard box, which had to be blocked by the outstretched foot of Dan Jones.
Moors were handed a golden opportunity to level the scores on the hour mark when Rob Ramshaw was taken down just inside the area by a Buxton man, winning a penalty for his side. Taylor stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left corner of the net to equalise.
With Moors back on level terms, Buxton looked to regain their goal advantage and almost did when George Ward smashed an effort goalwards, forcing a good save out of James, who palmed the ball over the bar.
Moors saw a few half chances go begging as the second half progressed. First through Hancox, whose strike was put wide by Young, before Pugh’s cross was claimed by the Buxton shot-stopper soon after.
The pressure put on the visitors did come off for Lee’s men with just 10 minutes of normal time remaining. Substitute Mackenzie Heaney slipped Taylor in behind, who played the ball across to Ramshaw to strike it in off the left post to give Moors the lead.
Sodje got the visitors back on level terms on the cusp of injury time when his side capitalised on a slip from Pugh. The number 20 received the ball and slammed it home back across goal to set up a nervy end to the game at The Brewery Field.
Both sides had chances early on in added time, as Brennan fired over from distance, before Young comfortably saved Taylor’s effort.
Moors had time for one final chance in the dying embers, when the ball came out to Ethan Robson on the edge of the area. The loanee struck a decent effort on goal but saw it deflected wide of the mark.
Full Time: Moors 2 Buxton 2
Moors: James; Rowe, D Jones (Dolan 76), Beals, Hill; Pugh, Hancox (Robson 87); Mondal, Ramshaw, McKeown (Heaney 69); Taylor.
Subs not used: B Jones, Luck, Green, Salkeld.
Booked: D Jones (38), Ramshaw (90).
Buxton: Young; Bardell, Ward, Smith, Robinson; Kirby, Campbell; Greaves (Viggars 87), Coleman (Johnston 74), Brennan; Sodje.
Subs not used: Cooper, Hill, Martin, Hall, Balfe.
Booked: Ward (60), Bardell (88)
Referee: Ben Robinson
Attendance: 1,048
Written by Noah Betts