By Ashley Houghton
Josh Lane’s late strike rescued a point for Nantwich Town in an enthralling encounter at the Weaver Stadium.
Lane’s 86th minute goal levelled the game at 2-2 after Mark Reed had given Buxton the lead.
Bucks captain Steve Istead had given the Derbyshire outfit the perfect start before Si Everall equalised on the half hour.
Jimmy Quinn was forced into one change from the side that drew against Stafford on Saturday with Darren Moss replacing the injured Mat Bailey.
The visitors started brightly with Matt Thornhill twice going close to breaking the deadlock during the first ten minutes but he shot wide on both occasions.
The Dabbers found it hard to get into the game throughout the early stages with only a tame effort from Lane giving Ian Deakin any work in the Buxton goal.
The deadlock was broken on 23 minutes after a controversial foul on Adam Carden, Istead found space in the area and curled the ball into Jonny Brain’s left hand corner.
Nantwich reacted well and replied ten minutes later when Sean Cooke found Everall in space on the edge of the area and the former Stafford Rangers man (pictured) hit a powerful effort into the top corner leaving Deakin with no chance.
In an evenly matched second-half, The Bucks missed a golden opportunity to regain the lead 20 minutes from time when Lee Morris’ flick on found Reed who beat the offside trap but dragged his six-yard effort wide.
Reed did redeem himself three minutes later as he found space in the area and made no mistake sliding the ball past Brain.
The introduction of Christian Smith swung the balance of the game in favour of The Dabbers.
The former Chester FC man’s pass created the opening for Lane who calmly smashed home with his left foot to earn a deserved point.
Nantwich could have won it in the closing stages as Smith’s 35-yard free-kick forced a fine save from Deakin.
The Dabbers travel to Blyth Spartans on Saturday (November 24) looking to close the gap on the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division playoff places to one point.
(pic by Simon J Newbury)
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