Savory double brings Buxton back to Horsfall for replay (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Savory double brings Buxton back to Horsfall for replay

2:22pm Sunday 11th October 2009

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Buxton 2, Bradford Park Avenue 2

Avenue will line up against Buxton again tomorrow night after bringing the FA Cup tie back to Horsfall Stadium and by then will know who awaits in the fourth qualifying round, should they progress.

Bradford’s second club are in Monday lunchtime’s draw as an ‘either or’ with a home replay to look forward to. On one hand that is a good outcome but it masks the fact that they let a two-goal lead slip at Buxton.

Avenue boss Lee Sinnott said: “We go again tomorrow and I saw things in the first meeting that suggest we can get the job done, although I saw a lot in yesterday’s game that also needs work.

“It could have been a hockey score and it must have been a great game for the neutral as there were chances at both ends. We could have been coming in two or three down at half-time but we were in front.”

The only goal of the first half came from a penalty in the 35th minute. A run by Rob O’Brien was ended inside the area by a foul and Aiden Savory stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick.

Avenue increased their lead just before the hour following a good move and Savory was again the scorer.

From the restart, the ball went backwards but Buxton launched a route-one attack and Kieran Lugsden halved the deficit.

The momentum of the game had switched and the home side had their visitors on the back foot. Buxton forced a corner with a little over 15 minutes remaining and, when Avenue failed to clear the danger, Lugsden pounced for his second.

Instead of going all out for a victory, the second goal seemed to ramp up the tension and Avenue defended well in the closing stages.

They could have won it themselves had Savory got better direction on his header to Simon Baldry’s late cross.

Avenue had a weakened side and manager Sinnott has added injury concerns following what was a tough encounter.

“Chris Hall (virus) and Chris Stabb (ankle) were unavailable and Rob (O’Brien) had to come off late on after taking a knock,” he said.

“We had the players in for extra training today and will evaluate the squad before making a final selection today.

“Some will say we missed a good chance to progress after leading 2-0 and I can understand that point of view. But tomorrow is a second bite of the cherry for who? Is it us or Buxton, who have lost home advantage after the first meeting?

“I’m relatively happy about Saturday after reflecting on it. You have to be philosophical about things and I’m looking forward to tonight.”

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