The Bucks got their 2026/27 National League North campaign off to a dramatic winning start as Sisa Tuntulwana struck twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to secure a 2-1 victory over Hereford at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.
The visitors created the first opportunity of the afternoon, with Aaron Skinner picking out Cawley Cox, whose glancing header drifted wide of the target.
Soon after, Cox turned provider as he sent Luke Spokes through on goal, but Logan Stretch was equal to the effort and comfortably gathered the ball.
Buxton defender Ben Grist caused problems with his long throws into the box, creating a number of tussles in the area, although the referee waved away the Bucks’ penalty appeals.
A first major opening for Buxton arrived in the 24th minute on the counter. After winning the ball back from a Hereford corner, Owen Devonport raced forward before being brought down by Billy Phillips, who was shown a yellow card.
Once again, Grist’s long throw caused danger just past the half-hour mark, with Kieran Burton flicking the ball on at the near post, but former Buck Theo Richardson was on hand to collect.
Tuntulwana then looked to make something happen himself, driving into the area before firing towards the near post, but his effort failed to find the target.
The breakthrough finally arrived through Tuntulwana in 38th minute as Buxton scored their first goal of the season. Liam Brockbank’s direct free-kick was aimed towards Richardson, but the Hereford goalkeeper spilled the ball, allowing Tuntulwana to react quickest and fire home to make it 1-0.
After the restart, The Bulls went close to an equaliser when Keziah Martin’s free-kick picked out Kam Kandola, who sent his header over the crossbar.
Buxton responded with a clever corner routine from Connor Kirby, which eventually found Burton, whose acrobatic effort flew narrowly wide of the target.
A major turning point came in the 65th minute when Preston Bitemo was shown a red card following a late challenge on Kirby, with the Buxton captain forced to leave the field on a stretcher as Hereford were reduced to ten men.
Burton went close again moments later, rising highest to meet a cross and forcing Richardson into a low save to keep the visitors in the contest.
Just when it looked like Buxton had done enough, Hereford were awarded a penalty in stoppage time after Burton brought down Harry Tustin inside the area. Skinner stepped up from 12 yards and calmly converted to level the score at 1-1.
However, the drama continued deep into added time. Tuntulwana carried the ball across the field before finding Woltman, whose effort was saved by Richardson, but Tuntulwana followed up to fire home his second of the afternoon and seal all three points for the Bucks.
