Buxton 1 AFC Telford 1 - match report

A replay may not have been on the agenda when AFC Telford United arrived in the Peak District - but Buxton have surely missed their chance to spring an FA Cup surprise.

The Evo-Stik League premier division high-fliers fought like tigers and made sure that the men in yellow knew they had been in a game.

But, in their own back yard with a noisy crowd behind them, this was Buxton's moment to shine.

The Silverlands pitch was more suited to grazing cattle and the patchy, long grass meant Telford were never able to play their natural passing game.

Back at the New Bucks Head tomorrow evening it should be a different story - and Andy Sinton's men have the quality within their ranks to secure an ultimately smooth progression to the fourth qualifying round.

John Reed and his Buxton team may have something to say about that of course, though there was nothing on display here that should frighten the Shropshire side.

Telford never hit top gear but Buxton could not capitalise. For all their possession, for all their territory, they rarely threatened to draw visiting keeper Ryan Young into action.

It was a blood and thunder contest that lacked any memorable goalmouth action for long periods - as proven by a first half that saw just two efforts on target.

For Buxton, Steve Ridley fired straight down Young's throat with a free-kick from the edge of the box.

For Sinton's men, Carl Rodgers drew Scott Hartley into an acrobatic stop on the brink of half-time with a blistering free-kick from 35 yards out.

In between those two incidents there were few talking points, though it was Telford who carried the greater threat.

One fabulous passing move, out of kilter with most of what came before and after, ended with Steve Abbott having a header deflected wide for a corner.

Phil Trainer also sent a shot over the bar after good approach work from Abbott and Alex Meechan.

Buxton continued to take the game to their higher-ranked opponents after the break and Telford could have been undone by uncharacteristic ill discipline.

Three bookings for dissent pointed to a team that was feeling the strain as the prospect of a potential upset loomed large.

Yet still their much-vaunted defence held firm - and they got a slightly unexpected breakthrough soon after the introduction off Adam Proudlock.

The former Wolves man certainly mixed things up and won the free-kick that led to the opener when he went down on the edge of the 'D' under Gregg Anderson's challenge.

Stefan Bailey, who had come on at the same time, took the set-piece and unleashed a stinging strike that Hartley could only parry. Liam Murray needed no second invitation, reacting fastest to stab in the loose ball.

Buxton might have folded at that setback and deserve credit for the way they instead rolled their sleeves up and set about launching a counter offensive.

They got their reward within five minutes as Grant Black broke on the right and whipped in a vicious cross.

Anderson's run into the box was perfectly-timed, his finish was not - yet he didn't care a jot as the ball flew in off his knee to level the scores.

It sparked a frantic final 10 minutes as both teams showed a commendable attitude in going for a winner.

Yet, in keeping with the game as a whole, defences remained on top and both keepers saw the game out without being called into further action.

Tomorrow's replay should be a different kind of contest - and one with more to excite the Telford fans.

Match analysis by Chris Hudson