The first of the National League North playoff eliminators takes place on Tuesday evening as Buxton welcome Scarborough Athletic to the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium. With just one place separating the sides at the end of the regular season, this looks set to be a fascinating contest under the lights.
Buxton’s season looked in real danger of fizzling out before Christmas. A poor start left them well off the playoff pace, but a 3-1 victory away at Merthyr in February proved to be a turning point. From that moment on, the Bucks were transformed.
Across their final 13 league matches, Buxton won 10, drew one and lost just twice, scoring an impressive 30 goals in the process. That late surge saw them climb above Scarborough on the final day of the season thanks to a convincing 4-1 win over already-relegated Leamington.
Despite their strong finish, home form has been something of a concern. Buxton collected just 32 points from 23 home matches, ranking them 11th in the division for home points. Interestingly, only champions AFC Fylde picked up more points away from home, highlighting Buxton’s ability to perform on their travels rather than at Silverlands.
Form, however, is firmly on their side. Over the final ten league matches, no team in the division accumulated more points, and that run included a 2-0 victory over Scarborough earlier in April. Under John McGrath, Buxton have developed a reputation for playing attractive, easy-on-the-eye football, with an exciting young squad capable of entertaining as well as winning.
Having exited at the quarter-final stage last season, the Bucks will be determined to go at least one step further this time around.
For Scarborough, this campaign already represents a major achievement. Tuesday night marks their first-ever appearance in the Step Two playoffs since reforming as a phoenix club back in 2007, and they arrive with nothing to lose.
The Seadogs finished level on points with Buxton, missing out on a higher placing only on goal difference. Defensively, they have been one of the most reliable sides in the league, boasting the fourth-best defensive record overall. That solidity could prove crucial against a Buxton side that finished the season with the third-highest goals tally in the division.
Manager Jonathan Greening deserves huge credit for Scarborough’s rise, guiding them into uncharted territory and instilling an organisation and resilience that has made them difficult opponents all season.
No team has seen both teams to score more than Scarborough on the road (17/23), so a high scoring affair is anticipated, particularly with Buxton's attacking strength.
Both Teams To Score @1.72
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