Buxton
Rangers lost their 100 per cent record after a defeat against Buxton at Marston Road .
Rangers made two changes as Jake Heath replaced the missing Richard Batchelor, and Jordaan Brown also came into the team for his debut.
It was the Boro who had the first chance of the game in the 11th minute, and it came on the counter attack as Louis Briscoe broke, with the ball finding Dan Westwood, who went one-on-one with a defender, but his shot was way over.
It was then Buxton’s turn to break, as Liam Hardy looked to run through on goal, but Kai Davis managed to get back and block the shot.
Midway through the first half, Buxton were awarded a corner which found skipper Greg Young, who couldn’t trouble the Rangers goal with his header as it went wide.
It was nearly a repeat of the goal scored in the victory over Sutton Coldfield Town on the half hour mark, as Izak Reid’s corner found Mat Bailey, who rose high and connected well, but was unfortunate to see the chance rattle the bar.
Buxton, who had been forced to make two changes inside the first quarter of the game, were awarded a controversial free-kick in a promising position, and it was one of those replacements – Niall Doran – who curled the ball into the top corner to give the hosts the lead after 33 mins.
It was a tough start for Rangers in the second half as they went 2-0 down in the 49th minute. The goal came from another set piece, this time a corner, which was headed home by Sam Smith, the other first half substitute.
The visitors made it 3-0 just before the hour mark, as Ricky Ravenhill’s chipped ball to the far post was not dealt with by Adam Whitehouse, leaving a tap in for Hardy (57 mins).
Boro did pull back a consolation goal on 70 mins as Westwood got himself on the scoresheet again – making it three goals in three games. The assistant referee had his flag up as Westwood went round the keeper and scored, but the referee overruled the decision, the ball finding its way to Westwood via a Buxton player.
However, the goals didn’t stop there. Boro tried pushing themselves back into the game, bringing on forwards Kyle Perry and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, but Buxton went on the counter-attack, and allowed Hardy to sit down Whitehouse, before scoring with ease.
There was more controversy at the end of the game, after a collision between the Buxton keeper Jan Budtz and Perry, but the referee felt that both players deserved just a yellow card.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Kai Davis, 3 Jordaan Brown, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jack Langston, 7 Joe Thomas (17 Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson 55m), 8 Izak Reid (16 Levi Reid 81m), 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Louis Briscoe, 11 Jake Heath (14 Kyle Perry 55m). Unused Subs: 12 Exodus Geohaghon, 15 Jack Sherratt
Buxton: 1 Jan Budtz, 2 Josh Meade, 3 Andy McWilliams, 4 Ricky Ravenhill, 5 Joe Maguire, 6 Greg Young, 7 Joe McGee, 8 Alpha Kaba, 9 Ant Wilson (12 Sam Smith 6m), 10 Liam Hardy, 11 Alastair Taylor (14 Niall Doran 21m(15 Luke Hinsley 88m)). Unused Subs 16 Tyler Williams, 17 Jake Williams
Cautions: I Reid & Briscoe (Rangers), Budtz, Doran (Buxton)
Referee: Bradley Hall
Attendance: 592
