Hednesford Town 2 Buxton FC 1

Sep 3 2008

The Pitmen moved to the top of the Unibond League after a never say die performance against a gritty Buxton side.

A Danny Harvey header halfway through the seven added on minutes finally broke Buxton's resistance but there was still more drama in the final minute when Harvey conceded a penalty which goalkeeper Stuart Brock saved.

Briscoe tested Scott Hartley the Buxton keeper with a shot from the edge of the box. The keeper somehow saved the goal bound effort by using his knee which saw the ball rebound back into play and then put behind for a corner kick.

Mark Briggs' corner kick skimmed off the top of Danny Harvey's head and dropped to a surprised Louie Briscoe who with little time to react hit a shot wide.

Barnett was causing the Buxton defence a number of problems and again was able to hold onto a long pass. He then set up Briscoe for a 20 yard shot which after previously keeping his other efforts low he skied the ball on this occasion over the crossbar.

Barnett finally got his reward in the 26th minute; Briscoe won the ball in midfield and after using his strength to hold off a defender he laid a pass to Barnett who from 20 yards hit a firm low shot which went into the right hand side of the net after taking a deflection off Bowker's heel.

Buxton equalised in the 38th minute against the run of play when a long ball into the Pitmen's penalty area caused confusion and Michael Towey managed a shot which took a deflection. Brock was wrong footed by the deflection and was unable to get across to stop the ball from trickling over the goal line just inside the right hand post.

The Pitmen had the ball into the net shortly after half time but Briscoe's effort form 20 yards was ruled out for a foul on the keeper by Barnett as they jumped for the ball. The Buxton keeper hit his head on the floor and was out cold for a minute or two. After nearly five minutes treatment the game resumed.

Hartley did not seem to be feeling any ill effect of the head injury as a few minutes later he was sharp enough to tip over a Tyrone Barnett header from a Platt cross from the right.

On the hour mark Buxton made a double substitution but it was player who had been on since the start who nearly scored an unexpected goal.

Decio Gomes who was having another excellent game at the back for the Pitmen was holding up Gavin Knight but the Buxton player stole half a yard and sent a chipped shot from the outside of the right hand side of the penalty box which bounced off the top of the Pitmen's crossbar.

The Pitmen were denied a goal by another fine save by Hartley who tipped over a header from Danny Harvey then he was in action to deny a back post Tom Marshall header by making a diving low save.

The Buxton goal was leading a charmed life, especially when Dyer headed on a long pass as the keeper came rushing out. The ball trickled towards the goal and with the fans starting to celebrate a goal the ball hit the right hand post and spun away from the goal.

When the board went up for seven minutes added on time no one could have envisaged the excitement which was about to unfold.

In the first extra minute, Dyer attempted a header but two minutes later he became provider as he hit a great ball from the left into Danny Harvey who glanced a diving header into the right hand side of the net.

Harvey then in the final moments of the game conceded a penalty by clumsily bringing Knight down inside the penalty area. With the referee informing Gavin Knight that his penalty kick was going to be the last action of the game it was left to Stuart Brock to end the game as a hero as he dived to his right to save Knight's spot kick. As the ball bounced away from him, he somehow managed to grab hold of it.

The referee then blew for full-time as the Pitmen players jumped all over their keeper celebrating his save. The players then left the field of play with the fans giving them a well earned reception, one which has not been heard at Keys Park for sometime.

The stage is now set for another good game on Saturday when third place Ashton United visit Keys Park.