Buntingford survive exodus to go second

Standon & Puckeridge 2 Buntingford Town 3

A LATE penalty from Gary Christie secured a fine win for an under-strength Buntingford side.

With the majority of the first team squad set to follow ex-manager Paul Attfield to Royston, Buntingford caretaker manager Duncan Easley was forced to call upon a number of reserve team players for the match.

Easley said: "It took us a good 20 minutes to get adjusted to the pace of the game, but everyone acquitted themselves superbly.

"It was a tight game that could have gone either way, but the levels of commitment and desire shown tipped the balance in our favour."

Town, who could have been two or three goals down early on but for some great goalkeeping from Jorden Gibson, took the lead on the counter attack when Philip Stevens scored from close range after Phil Fisher's shot was parried by the keeper.

A disputed penalty brought Standon level before the break, but in the second half Buntingford took control.

With the experienced central defensive partnership of Easley and Chris Hardy providing a solid base, Town were rewarded when skipper Gareth Clarke netted a spectacular overhead kick in the 70th minute.

Although Standon hit back with a second equaliser five minutes later, Buntingford continued to press, and the winner came when Fisher was pulled to the ground in the area, and Christie converted the penalty to move Town back up to second in the table.

Buntingford Town: Gibson, Lynch, Cox, Hardy, Chaffey, Stevens, Clarke, Beaumont, Kenney, Christie, Fisher. Subs: Easley, Fox, Frostick.