DEFEAT AT BUXTON

Buxton record a 7-1 win over Needham Market, on a tough day at the office for the Marketmen.

Kevin Horlock's side made one change to Tuesday's defeat for the trip to Buxton, Jamie McGrath starting in place of Ollie Fraser.

Both sides started brightly, with Nico Valentine's second minute surging run almost creating an early shot for Needham, while Kyle Hammond was well placed at the other end to clear a low cross after 8 minutes.

The Bucks however broke the deadlock in the tenth minute, a long ball over the top from Manchester City loanee True Grant threaded Tom Elliott through down the left-hand side to wrap a fine finish past Marcus Garnham into the top far corner.

Five minutes later, a fortuitous deflection culminated in a quickfire seconds goal for the home side, Leeds United loanee Cian Coleman found space to shoot, on the left-hand edge of the box, whose strike deflected into the bottom far corner off Hammond.

The Marketmen went close in response, Bermuda international Reggie Lambe picked up possession from distance, but shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner after 17 minutes.

Jack Stobbs then saw a free-kick blocked by the wall in the 20th minute, before Buxton added a third goal 3 minutes later. After Cian Coleman was threaded through down the left-hand side, the midfielder found space to poke home at close range.

At the other end though, Needham drew a goal back on 26 minutes, a long ball towards captain Luke Ingram saw the winger break through onto the right-hand side of the box, the winger went down under a challenge, with the ball falling to Ipswich Town loanee Nico Valentine to guide home into the bottom corner at close range.

Needham then had a good spell of possession, as they looked to get a bigger foothold in the game. Adam Mills' free-kick dropped to Valentine in space, whose half-volleyed shot was blocked, before Jamie McGrath could only poke it agonisingly wide at point blank range on 33 minutes.

Buxton meanwhile added a further three goals in the remaining 11 minutes of the opening half, Tom Elliott netted his second and third goals of the afternoon in the space of 5 minutes.

The first saw the hosts' goalscorer poke home into the bottom near, left-hand, corner at close range, while the second was fired low and into the net following a low cross on 39 minutes.

Connor Kirby got in on the act in the second minute of first half stoppage time, curling home a free-kick into the top left-hand corner.

The Marketmen had a double change at the break, Kyle Hammond and Nico Valentine were withdrawn in favour of Seth Chambers and Jacob Lay, with the Suffolk side battling valiantly.

Marcus Garnham however was alert in the 50th minute to hold onto a free-kick, whipped into a dangerous area at his far post, while Luke Ingram was forced off due to injury - with Ollie Fraser on in his place.

While Ethan Fitzhugh shot comfortably wide of the bottom corner on 65 minutes, Garnham advanced off his line smartly to deny a close range shot six minutes later.

Garnham meanwhile was on hand to deny substitute Sam Tomlinson's first time shot at point blank range, following a low cross after 76 minutes, while Jacob Lay was threaded through down the other end - with appeals for a penalty dismissed by the referee.

Substitute Seth Chambers exploited space to shoot, from the left-hand side, but saw his low fierce strike well held by Grant on 86 minutes.

At the other end though, brilliant defending from Tevan Allen saw the midfielder track back to deny a close range shot moments later, before substitute De Girolamo found the bottom left-hand corner ffom 14-yards out, despite appearing to have been offside.

Garnham was called upon once again soon after, advancing off his line to smother possession.

Needham are back in home action on Saturday, when Spennymoor Town visit the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields (3pm).