NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH REPORT: BUXTON MOVE INTO PLAYOFFS WITH WIN OVER CHORLEY

Buxton put themselves into the playoff spots with a 1-0 victory over Chorley.

After a quiet start to the game, Buxton broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. Luke Brennan’s cross from the left was only partially cleared by Chorley, falling kindly to Bucks captain Connor Kirby, who struck a superb strike into the top right corner to make it 1-0.

Chorley almost grabbed an equaliser straight away when Mike Calveley met a cross with a powerful header, but it was comfortably held by goalkeeper True Grant.

Grant was involved again moments later, launching a long kick forward that found Brennan in behind the defence, but the forward dragged his shot wide of the post.

Just before the break, Bobby Faulkner saw a diving header from a corner cleared away. The ball was recycled and delivered back into the box, with Faulkner once more rising highest only to see his second effort collected by Matt Urwin.

The Bucks had the first chance of the second half when Cian Coleman cut inside and curled a shot narrowly wide of the far post.

It was the visitors who began to grow into the game, looking to exploit the left-hand side through former Buxton man Warren Clarke.

In the 64th minute, Calveley fired across the face of goal after a flick-on from substitute Tom Carr, but Grant was once again equal to it.

Johnston had two chances in quick succession to double Buxton’s lead. First, Brennan looped a cross into his path, but the striker couldn’t quite generate the power needed on his finish. Moments later, he broke forward on the counter attack but lost his footing as he raced through on goal.

Clarke had a final chance to salvage a draw deep into added time, but his shot flew wide of the post.