Buxton fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against Leamington in Warwickshire, with a late Kieran Burton header cancelling out Owen Farmer’s first-half strike.
The opening stages of the game saw both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances, with early efforts from both teams being blocked before reaching the goal.
Buxton’s first real opportunity came in the 18th minute when Luke Brennan struck a low-driven shot, but it was comfortably gathered by Leamington goalkeeper Callum Hawkins.
Leamington’s first chance of the game fell to Farmer who from 12 yards out fired his shot well over the bar.
The Bucks then had two quick chances to take the lead. First, Dermi Lusala delivered a pinpoint cross into the area, where Connor Kirby met it on the volley, but he was unable to direct it either side of Hawkins.
Just a minute later, Brennan went close again, this time seeing his effort cleared off the line by George Ward and behind for a corner.
Despite Buxton’s promising attacking moments, it was the hosts who struck first just before half-time. Farmer, who had earlier missed a golden opportunity, made no mistake this time as he fired Leamington into the lead in the 44th minute with a strike into the top corner of the goal.
Buxton made a change at halftime, with Johnny Johnston coming on to replace Ben Sault as they looked to find a way back into the game.
However, it was Leamington who had the first notable effort after the restart, as True Grant was called into action in the 56th minute to tip a free-kick behind for a corner.
The Bucks almost found themselves further behind just after the hour mark when a loose pass from Burton gifted possession to Farmer, who raced through on goal. However, his hopes of doubling Leamington’s lead were thwarted by a superb last-ditch tackle from Bobby Faulkner, preventing him from getting a shot away.
Buxton continued to push for an equaliser, but their frustration grew as Kirby’s curling free-kick in the 68th minute sailed over the bar.
The away side kept pressing, and their perseverance was finally rewarded in the 80th minute. Substitute Ethan Fitzhugh delivered a perfectly placed free-kick into the box, where Burton met it with a diving header to draw Buxton level and mean that the sides had the share the points.
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