Bakewell Buxton Stars and Buxton United both recorded victories when action in the East Coast Demerara Football Sub Association (ECDFSA)/Mackeson Stoute-sponsored Premier League competition continued at the Plaisance Community Centre ground Thursday night.
Playing in the first game of the double header, Bakewell Buxton Stars scored a 1-0 victory over former champions Victoria Kings whilst Buxton Stars defeated their more illustrious counterparts Plaisance 2-0 to maintain their lead in the competition.
The first game of the double header lived up to the hype and expectations as both teams pressed hard for the initiative.
Bakewell Buxton should have gone ahead in the first minute but a Pierre Joseph cross was not converted by Kwame Moffat.
Nevertheless, they continued to attack forcing Kings’ defence to work overtime.
Joseph was brought down in the 12th minute and former Kings’ midfielder, Ruben Morris, took the ensuing free kick and beat Andrew Williams to give Buxton the lead.
Kings almost responded immediately when Dwayne Marks worked his way past the Buxton defence and squared the ball but, despite the presence of three forwards in the area, none of them were able to get a touch and former national under-15 custodian Brian Robinson duly effected the save. A fast-paced game continued leading up to lemon time with Kings looking for the equalizer through Seon David who struck the cross bar with a flying header in the 26th minute.
The score line remained the same at the half in favor of Bakewell Buxton who had to withstand numerous raids from their opponents in the second half to hold onto the lead and subsequently the win.
Kings can only blame themselves for the defeat as they squandered many opportunities even though they displayed fitness, technique and flair.
But Kings were not the only ones squandering chances as Buxton player missed a header with an open goal that would have given his team a comfortable 2-0 lead.
But even though Victoria Kings injected fresh legs into the game in the likes of Marlis Johnson and Donald Lutchman for Horace Graham and David respectively, it was all to no avail as Bakewell Buxton whose custodian Robinson picked up an injury with just under 15 minutes to go, maintained their stubborn defensive attitude to come away with the win.
In the feature game, Buxton United defeated Plaisance United 2-0 following a Derrick Hatton penalty in the 20th minute and a Clive Andries strike in the 66th.
