Buxton went into stoppage time with the lead at Hereford on Easter Monday, only to concede a last-gasp goal and finish 2-2. Failing to see out games successfully has become an unfortunate habit this season.
The Bucks, with six changes to the starting line-up, played positive football throughout, leaving behind the lack-lustre second-half showing against Chester last Friday.
As early as the fifth minute a pin-point Jak McCourt pass put Jake Wright through, but his uncontested header was off-target. It was left to Diego De Girolamo to score first with a tap-in from a Ben Andreucci cross just before half-time, then the Bucks went two up as under-pressure defender Kyle Howkins fired into his own net after 70 minutes.
The visitors were looking comfortable in front of a noisy contingent of travelling fans, part of a 3,000-plus crowd, But Hereford have an outside chance of the play-offs and they countered at every opportunity. Substitute Andy Williams rounded goalie Aleks Petrovic to pull one back after 77 minutes. Eoin McKeown was put through on goal shortly afterwards with the chance to settle the game, only to shoot straight at the advancing goalkeeper, then came the closing-stages equaliser. Petrovic parried a shot which bounced out to Williams, who added his and Hereford's second after 93 minutes.
Bucks' team manager Craig Elliott had mixed feelings, praising his team for all-out effort but voicing frustration at dropping points. He said: "It was end-to-end with a cracking second half. From my point of view I'm just disappointed we couldn't see the game out. We had some brilliant chances. In the end it was a good performance and a well-deserved point at a difficult venue. I was impressed by the hard work and the lads' general reaction after Friday. We want to end the season positively."
Next up is Chorley at home on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
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