Radcliffe had historically never taken a point from Buxton at the Neuven stadium, and goals in the final ten minutes from Connor Kirby and Diego De Girolamo ensured the points went back to Derbyshire with the visitors.

Bernard and Jonno made three changes to the side that was beaten at the weekend, Mo Doro, Jamie Morgan and Nicky Adams were brought into the starting eleven with Jordan Hulme also able to return to the bench.

The game kicked off on schedule, but a floodlight failure above the tunnel caused the referee to take the players back into the dressing room momentarily whilst a solution was sought. Eventually, almost half an hour after the match had kicked off the game got underway.

Chances were limited in the opening 45, the away side saw their shots at goal blocked by Rick Smith, as the defender threw his body into the ball on multiple occasions. Buxton also had a strike from Ethan Fitzhugh that sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The Bucks’ best chance in the first half came from Tom Elliott down the right side, the number ten’s dangerous pass went across the six-yard area before Jamie Morgan put the ball behind at the far post.

Similarly, Radcliffe had limited opportunities, Josh Hancock took aim at goal from range but a Buxton body was in the way to block and the visitors cleared the danger on the second ball after 17 minutes.

The chance of the half came in the 44th minute as a short corner allowed Doro to try his luck, but his effort was central and allowed the opposition ‘keeper to tip the ball over the bar. From the following set piece, Smith headed back across into Brad Roscoe and his shot was nodded just off target.

Unfortunately for the Boro, Buxton manufactured better chances in the second half. In the 65th minute, Josh Popoola launched a counter attack and played Ben Sault through on goal. Buxton’s left midfielder saw the side of the net ripple and visiting supporters thought that they had scored, but his shot was narrowly wide of the post from a gilt-edged opportunity.

Radcliffe responded positively to the near miss and appeared to move up a gear, Hancock attempted to pick out Tunde Owolabi in the left channel but Jack Stobbs defended well to clear the danger behind for a corner. Adams’ delivery into the area was too close to the ‘keeper, gathering the ball at the second attempt.

Just as Radcliffe readied a triple change; Buxton took the lead. Popoola forced a foul from Morgan to win a free kick in a dangerous position, and the opposition skipper shouldered the responsibility, lifting his shot over the wall and into the back of the net.

At the start of the six minutes of added time, De Girolamo was introduced to the action and added a late second goal moments later to seal the win for the visitors. Sam Tomlinson fizzed the ball across the six-yard area and the Buxton number nine was well positioned to tap home, as Radcliffe applied pressure in the final third only seconds earlier.

The Boro return to the road this weekend as we travel to the Attis Arena, looking to return to winning ways against league-leaders Scunthorpe United. Buy your away tickets online here!