On-loan Leeds midfielder Cian Coleman scored a perfect hat-trick as Buxton secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Scunthorpe at Glanford Park.
The visitors started brightly, with captain Connor Kirby testing the waters from distance just three minutes in. A long ball upfield almost created the breakthrough when Ben Sault beat the Scunthorpe goalkeeper but couldn’t find a teammate to slot home, and the chance was eventually cleared away.
Josh Popoola was the next to try his luck, latching onto a pass from Jack Stobbs, but his shot drifted just wide of the post. Scunthorpe’s biggest threat came from set pieces, and in the 26th minute, Callum Roberts’ header at the back post had to be cleared off the line by Buxton’s defense.
Buxton broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. A cross found Josh Williams out wide, whose volley was parried by Ross Fitzsimons into the path of Coleman, who made no mistake in firing home to put the Bucks 1-0 up.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Scunthorpe responded just four minutes later. Roberts whipped in a dangerous free kick that found the head of Maxim Kouogan, whose looping effort sailed past True Grant to level the score at 1-1.
Both sides had chances to edge ahead before halftime. The hosts narrowly missed with a flicked header, while Stobbs’ pinpoint cross found Sault, whose header forced another fine save from Fitzsimons.
Carlton Ubaezuonu was a constant menace at the start of the second half, creating three quick opportunities. He first used his pace to burst down the flank, forcing a save with a powerful shot that Fitzsimons punched away. Minutes later, his effort was deflected behind for a corner, and soon after, he struck the side netting from a tight angle.
It was Buxton who regained the lead in the 65th minute, with Coleman doubling his tally. Kirby’s corner found the head of the Leeds loanee, who made it 2-1 with a well-placed finish.
Coleman then completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, finishing calmly past Fitzsimons after a slick passing move involving Tommy Elliott to extend Buxton’s lead to 3-1.
Scunthorpe mounted a late rally, with Max Brogan’s shot narrowly missing the far post. They pulled one back deep into added time when Roberts bundled the ball into the net following a corner, setting up a tense finale.
Despite a last-ditch effort from Danny Whitehall and a free kick that sailed over the bar, Buxton held firm to claim all three points, extending their unbeaten run in the league.
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