A thoroughly entertaining encounter on Tuesday saw 'the Bucks' achieve a 7th pre-season victory to maintain their 100% record. The young Mansfield side, reinforced by the likes of one-time £1 million striker, Jordan Bowery, and watched by manager, Nigel Clough, proved competitive and did enough to equalise early in the second half before Buxton responded with 2 more goals.
The visitors made an enterprising start, Jason Law's free-kick forcing Theo Richardson into a flying save at his near post, but it was Buxton who posed the greater threat thereafter. The opening goal in the 16th minute came in bizarre but spectacular fashion as Town's central defender, Ryan Burke, recently signed from Birmingham City, volleyed a left-flank cross fiercely into his own net from 15 yards ! Diego was prominent early on and from his fine short cross, Tom Elliott headed narrowly wide, then the striker himself narrowly failed to profit from an equally superb Chris Dawson through ball. James Hurst was also frequently involved in Buxton's fluent attacking play and twice, just past the half-hour, thrilled the crowd. A powerfully-struck,25-yard drive cleared the bar, then within a minute from similar range forced 'keeper Owen Mason into a splendid tip-over save. At the other end Theo also made a quality save by using his feet to deny ex-Barnsley forward, Keaton Ward.
Half-time brought 3 Buxton changes with Ash Chambers, Akeem Hinds and Ben Milnes entering the action without any loss of fluency, while Mansfield's lone substitute, striker Jimmy Knowles, soon equalised. Parity, however, didn't last long as Ben Turner netted his first Buxton goal with a far-post header from an Elliott corner and the lead was doubled by a Chambers tap-in as 'keeper Mason parried a dangerous low Elliott cross to him.
With just one friendly fixture remaining, versus Leek Town at home on Saturday (3p.m.), Buxton's squad has been trimmed by the release of centre-back, Joe Cummings, and midfielder Massimo.
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