1 | Jamie Milligan fires in a free kick in the first half.
2 | Jez Fitzgerald with a message from our sponsors.
3 | Jerome Watt sends Tony Lennon the wrong way!
4 | Referee Meeson 'a touch early' with Phil Denney's booking.
 

Following Saturday's demanding 90 minutes against Guiseley, Shaun Gray failed a late fitness test on a bruised ankle and Phil Robinson passed his test on a back injury. Long term absentee Warren Beattie was joined on the side line by Kieran Walmsley, out with a foot injury.  Andy Bell declared himself fit before kick-off after being substituted on Saturday with a slight hamstring strain. Buxton had taken all three points away at Eastwood Town last Saturday which consolidated their position in the play off places. The cold, dry conditions belied a heavy pitch which looked likely to cut up as the game continued.

The game started lively and Phil Denney earned a yellow card in what was possibly his first action of the game. "My challenge was a touch late, but never intentional" said Denney. "I thought it was a bit early in the game to be shown a yellow card.  I'm also surprised their player wasn't booked as well considering his reaction" the striker added. Both teams showed their intention to collect all three points from the start. Fleetwood went closest in the early minutes with Andy Bell shooting wide and a Michael Brown strike clattering against a defender. Denney then took his turn to test the home keeper on 15 minutes but Aaron Reid managed to collect the effort. Buxton then took the initiative. Grant Black and Tony Lennon combined to win a corner just before the half hour mark, but a foul on keeper Danny Hurst prevented any danger. An accurate cross-field ball from Buxton's Jason Bradley was met by Tony Lennon, only for Jez Fitzgerald to then win the ball. Jerome Watt was on hand to help Fitzgerald clear the threat. Buxton failed to make the most of the increasing wind against their backs and Fleetwood ended the half on top.

Town opened the second half positively and showed clear intention of taking the game to Buxton.  Milligan immediately tested Reid, who needed to tip the angled cross over his bar.  The Fleetwood captain also went close a few minutes later from a free kick and was then rewarded on 56 minutes. "Jez Fitzgerald tackled one of their players and did well to round him. He laid a great ball onto me. I was able to keep my stride and hit the ball into the far corner" said the skipper. "I think that's my 17th of the season" he added. Fleetwood wrapped up the game on 62 minutes when Phil Denney made it 2-0. A Jez Fitzgerald attacking throw was met by Andy Bell. Bell chested down into Denney's path who knocked the ball past Aaron Reid. The remaining Buxton threats were comfortably dealt with by the Fleetwood back line and Danny Hurst was relatively untroubled. Substitute Steve Foster, replacing Andy Bell on 74 minutes, soon marked his authority on the game. He was fortunate not to follow Denney in the referee's book after a crunching challenge on Grant Black. Foster was also unlucky not to add to the score line with a number of decent chances on goal. Fleetwood continued their pressure until the final whistle and took three well deserved points back to Lancashire.

TWO second half goals from the visitors ensured they took the points in the top of the table clash at the Silverlands on Tuesday night. Windy conditions didn't make for the best of games and it was the visitors who gained the most benefit from the weather with Buxton just not able to muster the fighting spirit they showed at Eastwood on Saturday.

The Bucks started well and created some good early movement but they just couldn't break through Fleetwood's strong defence.
Jason Bradley and Neil Ross both could have scored in the evenly matched first half with Fleetwood going close a number of times as well.

The visitors returned stronger after the break and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. Jamie Milligan's long range shot ten minutes into the second half bypassed Buxton keeper Arron Reid to give the visitors the advantage. Just six minutes later and Phil Denney extended the lead by tapping the ball home following a Fleetwood throw-in. Buxton were awarded a free kick on 65 minutes with Neil Ross sending the ball wide before Fleetwood's Phillip Robinson found himself in a good position with only Reid to beat, only to send the ball skyward. A series of dangerous shots by the visitors followed with Arron Reid making a succession of good saves to deny Fleetwood further goals.

I feel no guilt in slipping away from the family tonight. Tuesday is what I call “Mrs P’s Tic Tac Toe Night” EastEnders, Holby City and Hotel Babylon. The boys will watch the Champions League. The Nuclear Scientist picks up The Taxman and Sticky Palms at 6pm on the dot. It’s a one hundred and thirty mile round trip. We avoid the rush-hour traffic by driving down the A50 and cutting across the A515, through Ashbourne, and onto Buxton. It’s twenty years since I came to this spa town; I brought Mrs P here for a weekend, and stopped in The Pavilion Gardens. My favourite band, Echo and the Bunnymen, played some awesome gigs in the town back in the early eighties.

Buxton is in Derbyshire and lies on the River Wye. It has a population of 25,000. Famous people born in the area include: Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lloyd Cole, Bruno Langley (Todd off Corro) and the worst DJ in British history (apart from Jo and Twiggy off Trent FM) Dave Lee Travis. It is allegedly the highest market town in England, at an astonishing one thousand feet above sea level. Buxton FC were formed in 1877 and play at Silverlands. Their ground, naturally, is the highest in the Football Pyramid. I didn’t phone the ground to see if the game was on, as the weather has been glorious around our way. Amazingly, nearby Leek Town are called off tonight and the Silverlands surface is heavy and wet.

We park on a side street and follow the crowds to the ground. They are expecting below four hundred because of the United match. White Van Man has missed the trip and is slumped in his armchair. It’s £7.50 admission and £1.50 for a top-rated programme; it’s a fine publication. The clubhouse is modern and clean. Sadly there’s no hand pull ale on, so I settle for a can of Stella. Two Buxton fans chat away to us like long lost friends. They review their season and fill us in on the playing staff. But I know their team inside out; this will be the fourth occasion I’ve seen them perform. They are my favourite team of the season and their friendly fans live up to the billing. Fleetwood are tonight’s visitors, and are in a rich vein of form. They are chasing league leaders Witton Albion hard, and have come for the win. Their town is well known for the throat lozenge Fisherman’s Friend.

It’s a blustery old night, and we elect to sit in the main stand, looking out into the Derbyshire hills, as night falls. The Bucks kick with the wind. My main man and crowd favourite, Anton Foster is strutting his stuff in the centre of the park. He is the victim of a dreadful challenge after only a few minutes. He reacts badly and is lucky not to see yellow, unlike clumsy Fleetwood striker Phil Denney. The visitors are certainly keen to contain Foster and rip the shirt off his back; he plays the remainder of the game without a number on his shirt. Cod Army midfielder and ex-Evertonian Jamie Milligan has caught The Taxman’s eye. He has two feet, is graceful on the ball and passes accurately on a gluepot of a pitch. The Bucks are disappointing. On loan Owl Jason Bradley works his socks off. But I’ve never understood the over-inflated Non-League transfer fees paid for his partner Neil Ross. I’ve seen him for Ilkeston and Buxton, but he’s never floated my boat. He’s not particularly brave, or blessed with pace. It’s difficult to see what he really offers; I much prefer the honest endeavour of sub Paul Walker.

The highlight of the night is the snack bar. We all go for the hot pork pie with a drop of brown sauce; it’s a real treat, just like Fleetwood Town in the second-half. The cup of tea is delightful too. It’s poured from the pot and marked with an 8.5! The Nuclear Scientist misses out on the first prize on the raffle by one ticket. White Van Man texts in to say “United” are one up; I really couldn’t give a toss. I’m amongst friends, at The Silverlands, Anton’s playing well and the game is evenly poised.

The guy we met in the bar tells me the Bucks will play better against the wind, as he’s reffed here for 25 years and knows all the contours of the pitch; he couldn’t have been further from the truth. Fleetwood turn on the style. Milligan finds himself in acres of space on the left, and fires home. Shortly after Buxton fail to deal with a long throw from the left, Phil Denney makes no mistake from close-range. Buxton are dead and buried. There’s a succession of substitutions as the game’s played out. The margin could have been much greater. Fleetwood Town are sublime and are superior to anything I’ve seen at this level.

On eighty five minutes, an old guy gets up and starts to walk towards the exit. He’s on crutches, but manages to cover the ground quicker and slicker than Bucks’ striker Neil Ross has all evening. Buxton fall short tonight. Their defence have hardly won a header. Their tactics are direct and disappointing. But their club and fans are a delight. There’s a small cheer on the way home; Forest have collected all three points at Brunton Park. It’s “Kids for a Quid” at the City Ground on Saturday, but I’ve not told the boys, as I’m off to Welbeck Colliery v Ollerton Town.

Man of the Match: Jamie Milligan

http://stickypalms.blogspot.com/

Fleetwood Town gained a vital 2-0 win at play-off chasing Buxton on Tuesday night to maintain their challenge to Witton Albion for the UniBond League Premier Division title.  The Fylde Coast outfit, who still possess two games in hand on Albion, took a 56th minute lead through Jamie Milligan at the Silverlands. On 62 minutes Phil Denney doubled the visitors` advantage to complete victory and leave them seven points behind the leaders. Buxton remain in fourth, five points ahead of sixth-placed Eastwood Town.

Gateshead maintained their play-off push with a similar result at relegation-threatened Prescot Cables. Both goals came just before the half time break, with Phil Turnbull opening the scoring in the 41st minute and defender Carl Jones adding the other 3 minutes later.

Struggling Leek Town`s vital game with play-off hopefuls Guiseley was postponed due to a waterlogged Harrison Park, while Kendal Town moved two points clear of the drop zone, but would have wanted more that a 2-2 home draw with Ilkeston Town, who are only three points better off, despite being in ninth place! Gavin Knight gave the visitors a 17th minute lead that boss Lee Ashcroft (pictured) cancelled out 3 minutes later. Ashcroft led from the front by putting his side in front 10 minutes after the interval, only for a Ross Gardner spot-kick to pull the Reds back on terms in the 65th minute.

With the relegation fight being so close, there is rarely a `meaningless` game at present, and Ossett Town`s 3-2 home defeat to Marine means that, depsite still holding twelfth place, they cannot relax as they only have a three-point cushion over fourth-bottom North Ferriby United. Matt Daly gave Town the lead on the half-hour mark and it took until the 71st minute for Martin Christian to level. However, that sparked three more goals in 12 minutes, with Aiden Savory restoring Ossett`s lead on 75 minutes, Christian levelling 2 minutes later and Shaun Tuck netting the winner 3 minutes from time.

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08