Evo-Stik match report: Nantwich Town 1 Buxton 1

By James Briscoe
Andrew Pearson’s pile-driver earned Nantwich Town a hard-earned point at home to Buxton.

But the Dabbers will be rueing missed opportunities at the Weaver Stadium in a game they should have won.

The visitors were gifted the first real chance when centre back Mat Bailey’s weak clearance led to a shot he then managed to block.

Five minutes later, Buxton were ahead.

Winger Craig King found space on the left to cross low which found Liam Hardy unmarked to fire home past Steve James.

James then showed why he has been receiving plaudits with a fine save from a deflected Stuart Ludlam shot on 19 minutes.

Buxton made better use of the firmer ground on the wings in the first 20 minutes as Nantwich struggled.

Harrop had a freekick from distance on 22 minutes which flew over Andy Warrington’s bar.

Warrington  then suffered an eye injury on 25 minutes when Nantwich’s Steve Foster slid in for a loose ball in the box.

He was substituted for midfielder Steve Istead as they had no goalkeeper on the bench.

Moments later, Nantwich’s Ben Deegan was fouled and while penalty claims were being made, Pearson arrived on the edge of the Buxton box to slam in left-footed for the leveller.

Dabbers began to dominate and stand-in keeper Istead somehow got in the way when Foster slid to shoot on 38 minutes.

Pearson went close again on 44 minutes, shooting low and wide.

Nantwich’s Mark Jones suffered a possible broken nose in first half stoppage time after an arm from Buxton’s Derek Niven.

After the break, Davies worried Nantwich hearts on 52 minutes with a long range free-kick that curled just wide.

Davies had a closer free-kick two minutes later which was blocked.

Foster somehow managed to fire wide at the back post on 55 minutes after Andy White’s low cross picked him out.

But Nantwich failed to test Istead properly as Buxton looked happy to settle for a draw and were stubborn as a defensive unit.

Harrop had a great chance to grab the headlines on 90 minutes with a free-kick just outside the Buxton area but he fired over.

Nantwich: Steven James, Andrew Pearson, Andy White, Andy Keogh (Alex Meaney 81), Sam Wilson, Mat Bailey, Harry Clayton (Peter Green 64), Mark Jones (c), Ben Deegan (Aaron Burns 75), Steve Foster, Max Harrop. Subs: Alex Frost, Oliver Devenney.