Sponsored by
FC Halifax Town 2 Buxton 1: Vardy is Town hero
JAMIE Vardy's sublime finish following a wonderful Aaron Hardy through ball with 15 minutes remaining ensured Town began life in the Evo-Stik Premier with a win.
And the Shaymen were full value for the victory against a physical - sometimes very physical - Buxton side who finished the game with 10 men after skipper Gregg Anderson saw red in the 83rd minute.
He was dismissed for leading with the elbow in a challenge on James Riley who left the field with blood streaming from a face cut.
Before that, Town had been subjected to a string of niggling tackles which saw four Buxton players booked and threatened to derail Neil Aspin's side.
The Shaymen opened well but only led 1-0 at the break thanks to an early strike from Danny Holland, who missed a late spot kick.
Buxton had the better of the third quarter levelling when Michael Towey bundled home from close range.
But the Shaymen's class came through as they went back in front through Vardy and secured the points.
Town created the first opening in the second minute when Gray flicked on a Jonathan Hedge clearance and Holland brought it down well. The ball was played in for Harry Winter, but he was forced too wide to get in a powerful enough shot to trouble Buxton keeper Scott Hartley.
Moments later, Vardy raced into the area and pulled the ball back to force the first corner of the game.
Buxton almost scored from their first real attack, a corner at the other end after seven minutes.
Colin Hunter's delivery was flicked on at the near post and bundled into the net from close range, just after the referee had blown for an infringement.
And two minutes later, Anderson rose unmarked 12 yards out to head a Hunter free kick on the left wide of the far post.
Town went back onto the attack, with Holland finding Aaron Hardy on the right, but Vardy was unable to get on the end of his first-time cross.
And they went in front after 13 minutes, Vardy capitalising on a quickly-taken free kick to get away on the left before pulling it back for Holland who bundled home from close range.
It might have been 2-0 after 19 minutes as Vardy and Holland combined again to set up a chance for Winter, but his 25-yarder came back off the bar.
Riley headed over from a Garner free kick before there were a couple of scares for the Town defence.
Mark Reed did well to control a Grant Black cross and force a brave save from Jonathan Hedge, then James Asky fired woefully wide from 30 yards with the goal gaping after a mis-hit clearance from Liam Hogan.
Town opened up the Buxton defence five minutes before the break when Winter flicked on a Tom Baker ball for Nicky Gray, but he was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Joe Wilcox.
Baker sent the resulting corner on the left to the far post where Holland volleyed wide.
The half ended in bizarre fashion after Holland and Baker had combined on the right and a Buxton defender passed back to his own keeper.
Town's indirect free kick was right on the edge of the six yard box and touched back to Holland whose initial shot was blocked and his follow up header hit the bar.
Town were not quite on the money at the start of the second half with through balls from Gray and Hardy just eluding Vardy runs.
And Buxton had a great chance to equalise from a 55th minute corner, Hedge saving well from a Michael Towey header and holding on under pressure on the line from Kieron Lugsden.
They levelled in the 58th minute when Steve Ridley sent a cross in from the left, Town's defence failed to deal with a bouncing ball and Michael Towey forced it home from close range.
Vardy fired straight at the keeper just past the hour mark, but Town attacks were getting fewer and fewer as the visitors grew in confidence.
They were unable to find a way through, however, and Town went back in front with 15 minutes remaining, Hardy playing a sublime pass through for Vardy who finished superbly.
Within a minute Hardy was a hero at the other end when he headed off his own line after Towey had turned a cross from the left goalwards.
Scott Metcalfe fired wide from a half cleared corner and Baker had an effort blocked after Winter had nodded down a Holland cross as Town looked to make the game safe.
Buxton were reduced to 10 men with seven minutes remaining after Anderson elbowed Riley enforcing the Town man to be led from the field.
And the Shaymen should have made it three when, from a Metcalfe cross, the ball was palmed into Vardy's path and he was brought down by Scott Maxfield.
Holland hit a weak penalty which Scott Hartley dived to his left to save.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
