Winterton made five changes to the side that won at Hall Road Rangers last weekend, Smith and Hudson out Lindsey returns after injury and a first full start for Richard Medcalf. Chris Macdonald returned to the starting line-up with Dave Lawton relegated to the bench. The big surprise was Assistant Manager Darren France deputising for the suspended Leigh Herrick in goal.

In a lively first fifteen minutes Rangers edged the possession and made headway down both flanks without finding that killer cross. Although when France collected the ball in his box on 15mins.  and cleared quickly to Nikolaidis on the halfway line, his driving run was blocked out to Lindsey who superb cross-found Wilson racing into the box on the far side, but his first time volley was saved well by the Buxton Keeper.

A minute later Buxton responded well, Roney out foxed Keel before firing a shot that looked destined to nestle in the bottom corner but France got down well top tip it round the post.

Rangers were competing well until on 29mins when Collinson picked up a poor France kick, the Rangers defence were asleep which allowed him to race in and convert. 1-0.

Buxton looked very mobile going forward, very quick to get the ball down the flanks and France had a good first half getting his body behind three or four shots from distance. As the half wore on Winterton started to give the ball away too easily but still managed a few attacks themselves.

Rangers won a corner on 39mins, Richards dropped it into the box. The half clearance fell to Nikolaidis with his back to goal, he laid it out to Macdonald who in-turn passed it out to Richards to fire it in again. Richards cross-had the keeper and defender scrabbling to the far post where Nikolaidis was arriving. It was just too tight an angle to convert and he headed it back inside where it was eventually cleared. Soon after Lindsey hobbled off to be replaced by Banks.

As the half came to a close, France was again called upon to tip over a fierce drive by Miranda.

HT 1-0

Winterton nearly equalised when youngster Medcalf  raced into the box but his low drive across the keeper was well saved.

The half became a bit niggly with a few names being taken by referee Foley. Buxton’s Miranda was lucky to stay on the pitch when he retaliated and kicked out at Keel after he had brought him down on the touchline, and earlier Roney responded to a Ricardo tackle by raising his hands to push Ricardo over.

Rangers had a couple of chances, notably Nikolaidis who shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box. But so did Buxton, Collinson guilty of missing a few.

Winterton performed well but Buxton looked to have more quality and probably edged it. It was a shame to lost to a soft goal but Rangers performed well on the day.

Final Score 1-0.