FC Buxton 4-3 Port Vale

FC Buxton maintained there near 15 month unbeaten home league record this past Saturday, with a Dave Bainbridge inspired performance led them to a 4-3 victory against a very strong Port Vale team. FC had a scratch 12 to pick from, with numerous absentees and excuses ranging from JLS concerts, watching Wigan v Sunderland and Gambian jungle disease. However after Bammer said the ball rolls,  the match was declared ON and gaffer / Derren Brown look a like Corbett went with the line up of Redburn, Bettsy, Mossy, SJC,Merson,Dren,Bammer,Tiff,Bolton,Dom and Jamie, with Brett make a late appearance on the bench.

In the snowy, yet playable conditions, FC started the stronger and could and should have gone one up in the opening seconds, when following good work from Dom, the Vale keeper saved well both from Caley and fellow forward Jamie. This was to be a sign of things to come for the FC boys. Hambelton and Caley again both went close with in the first ten minutes and FC should have been out of sight within the first ten minutes. Yet it was Vale who took the lead when a hopeful long ball, found the tricky Vale winger who crossed well to be headed home. Portly soon doubled their advantage, when the ref gave a foul after a superb left footed tackle from Gaffer Stu, protests from FC Buxton and the linesmen were waved away and the Vale captain drilled home a 20 yard free kick!

However in this action packed first half, there were still numerous talking points still to come. Knowing the next goal was key, it was FC who struck when again, following good work from the industrious Caley, his shot beat the keeper only to get ‘stuck in the mud’, luckily strike partner Jamie was on hand to poke the ball home.  Now on a roll like a Merson drinking session, FC seized the opportunity to get back in the game, and did so when the veteran Bainbridge showed his age old battling qualities to win the ball before avaiding three tackles to drill home from 18 yards bringing the scores level. FC wide man and newly beardless Dren then had a perfectly good headed goal disallowed, much to his dismay. This feeling was worsened when Vale went straight up the other end to score a 5th goal of the half to take a 3-2 lead going into half time. The half time interval brought some strong words from Bammer, with the instruction if we don’t concede again, we’d win the game. Brett replaced Betts at the back, Jamie went to wide left, Tiff again went upfront and Bolton now found himself in his usual centre mid position.

Buxton set the pattern for the second half by dominating possession early on, with Bainbridge accompanied by Bolton running the show.  Also more apparent in the second half was FC right hand side play, with the tireless Dren giving the Vale full backs a torrid afternoon. With front two Dom and Tiff also linking well, FC were creating chances with Caley, Dren, Moss and Bam all coming close to drawing the scores level. At the other end the Buxton back four of Brett, Stu, Moss and Merse were taking no chances, whilst joining in the forward play well. Accompanied by keeper Redburn who made an important one on one save early in the half. SJC then pulled a page from the Simon Grayson book of management, replacing a disgruntled Merse with Bettsy, believing he had more of an eye / nose for goal.

The last 20 minutes were all FC Buxton, with Bainbridge rolling back the years in search for something out of the game.  This was to come after Betts was brought down, a wide free kick from Dren-a-suras Rex was headed home by Bolton, his first goal for the club. There was now only going to be one winner, and this came 5 minutes from time, when following good work from Moss and Dren, Caley crossed from the right to find a sliding Tiff at the back post who poked home with an unmentionable part of his anatomy. Although it was noted that he was a good 8 inches away from the ball when doing so.

FC saw out the final moments with instructions from the man flued up Martin the Cat Turner to ‘get it in the corner’. Credit to both teams for attempting to play some decent football on a wet pitch, which held up considerably well given the week’s weather and a big thanks to the lads from Vale – a good side playing the game in the correct spirit. It was then off to the Silverlands for the Staley friendly, with talk of a possible Bammer comeback, and is Merson the new sulking Anelka rife amongst the lads!!

Up the FC!!!

Next week: Sheffield United (Home) 1030 Kick off

(match report written by Chris 'Tiff' Hill)