Bushey Rangers 1 Buntingford Town 3 GARY Christie fired Buntingford Town to a deserved victory with his two strikes helping sink struggling Bushey Rangers. However, for the second week running, Town conceded an early penalty, with Paul Leslie s strike s

Bushey Rangers 1 Buntingford Town 3

GARY Christie fired Buntingford Town to a deserved victory with his two strikes helping sink struggling Bushey Rangers.

However, for the second week running, Town conceded an early penalty, with Paul Leslie's strike sending the hosts into the lead after a dubious handball decision.

But instead of falling further behind, Buntingford pushed forward with their efforts rewarded after 20 minutes when Lee Downham hooked the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

In an end-to-end half, both keepers had to be on their guard, with Jordan Gibson making one fine stop, before Phil Fisher forced an equally impressive save from the Rangers keeper just before half-time.

In the second half Town began to see more of the ball, with midfielders Tom Randall and Ricky Lawrence prominent.

In the 65th minute Christie pounced on Gibson's long punt forward and slotted the ball under the advancing Rangers keeper with a calm low strike.

Town went close with a few half-chances following a number of corners, although the hosts did have their own opportunities to draw level, with Gibson keeping his side in front with three key saves.

After weathering the Rangers storm, Buntingford kept their nerve and added a third with 10 minutes remaining, when Fisher freed Christie in the hosts' box, the striker completing the scoring with another well-taken finish.

Assistant manager Paul Fisher said: "It was a good win and it was nice to see a few smiling faces in the changing room at the end.

"But to be fair to Bushey, despite being bottom of the league, they really gave it their all.

"At times we rode our luck, and we had Jordan Gibson to thank for keeping us in it.

"We got off to another slow start, and when they were awarded a penalty, I thought here we go again!

"But as the game progressed we got stronger, and after winning what had become a midfield battle, I thought we did very well.

"We had to claw our way through, but we took our chances well and competed until the end."

Town make the trip to Bushey again on Saturday, with a difficult trip to league leaders Met Police Bushey - a team who have just lost one league game all season.

Fisher said: "It's going to be a very tough game, because they are doing very well this season.

"But we're looking forward to the game because it's a nice ground to play at.

"It's a big pitch and it will give us the chance to get the ball down and play.

"We will go there as the underdogs, but hopefully that will work in our favour!"

Buntingford Town: Gibson; Fox, Cox, Lynch, Downham; Margiotta, Randall, Clark, Lawrence; Fisher, Christie. (Subs): Kenney, Stoddard.

* Buntingford Town Reserves slipped to their third straight defeat with a 4-1 reverse at Bedmond S & S Reserves.