UP NEXT:
Buxton make the short trip to face Alfreton on Tuesday 14th April with a 7:45pm kick-off.
The Bucks
On Saturday Buxton won 2-0 at home to Scarborough in an important game for the playoff chase with goals from Luke Brennan and Johnny Johnston.
Reflecting on the game, manager John McGrath said:
“It was all the elements, but to be fair to my boys, they were excellent throughout the whole day and thoroughly deserved three points and two good goals scored.
We never took our foot off the gas, and we remained solid at the back, so I was quietly confident, even missing chances, that something would drop for us during the game.
They recognised that Brennan was isolated during one-vs-ones, so they’ve brought Alex Brown, who’s a left-back, to right wing, so they had their left-back and right-back double up on Brennan. When you have a really good full-back like Kieran who goes and joins in, Brennan just draws two men to him, and a little slide ball to Kieran, who was fantastic and whose first touch was really good, sees him get brought down for the penalty.
Something we have been working hard on with JJ in training is when he gets into those areas, to shift it half a yard and get his shot off, and it was a really clinical finish from him.”
Opposition facts
Alfreton Town are managed by Jake Buxton, who took charge in October 2021. This was his second first team management role after previously being Burton Albion manager 5 years before. He also played over 100 times for The Brewers and Derby County as well as 5 games for Alfreton on loan in 2003.
Based in Derbyshire, the club was founded in 1959 after a merger with Alfretom Miners Welfare and Alfreton United.
Known as The Reds, they are playing their home fixtures at North Street in a stadium called the Solana Stadium. Their record attendance here is 5023 which they got against Matlock Town in 1960.
In terms of cup history, they reached the FA Cup Second Round three times in their best runs which were in the 2008/09, 2012/13 and 2023/24 seasons.
Historically in the FA Trophy they have reached the Fourth Round on three occasions most recently in 2022.
Last season saw the club finish 14th in the league, collecting 59 points.
Across the last ten matches, Alfreton rank 16th in terms of form, while Buxton sit 1st over the same period.
Most recently, they drew 1-1 with Oxford City with ten men Jack Newall getting sent off and Dylan Youmbi scoring their goal.
At home, they rank 15th in the home form table, having picked up 30 points from 20 games.
Currently, Alfreton occupy 22nd place in the league after 43 matches, with 45 points to their name this season. They are five points off of 20th place Kings Lynn with a game in hand.
Since their defeat at South Shields on 28th March, they have remained unbeaten.
One to Watch: Max Hunt
Former Buxton player Max Hunt signed for the club in the summer of 2024 after a year with The Bucks the previous season.
Born in Chesterfield, the centre back was at Nottingham Forest, Matlock Town and Mansfield Town in his Youth career.
He then played first team football first for Matlock and then Belper on loan before making above to Derby County.
Whilst with The Rams he had a loan spell at Aldershot and made a permanent move to League Two club Carlisle United.
After a successful loan spell at Yeovil Town he signed permanently for the club in 2021.
Following his release Buxton signed the 6ft6 defender and during his time with the club he scored three goals.
Last time they faced
In October, Buxton hit six past The Reds without reply at The TSS Burton with two goals and further strikes from Greaves, Brennan, Sodje and McLean.
Last time at North Street it was a 3-2 loss with Brennan and Coleman scoring for The Bucks.
