Boro’s epic season in exile came to an end with a 4-2 defeat at full timers Buxton in the Play-Off eliminator, but Jono Greening’s side put in yet another battling performance, as they more than matched the hosts for most of the game, before being undone by Buxton’s devastating pace going forward in the last half-hour. Lewis Maloney replaced Harry Green in the only change from the draw at Bedford, while ex Boro loanee Kieran Burton made his 100th appearance for Buxton.
After a cagey opening few minutes, Boro, backed by a big travelling support, were unlucky not to open the scoring on 10 minutes, when a Luca Colville cross was headed on by Jake Hull to Kieran Weledji, whose fierce volley forced a terrific reflex save from Bucks keeper Joe Young. Ryan Whitley was then called into action at the other end, twice saving shots from Luke Brennan, and a Connor Douglas strike was blocked by Hull. Luca Colville was in good firm, and a clever flick to Alex Wiles sent him free, but Max Bardell slid in to win the ball.
A Cian Coleman shot was blocked by Colville, with Connor Kirby striking the rebound just over, and Will Thornton tackled Burton when he burst into the area, then another Thornton tackle foiled Will Trueman as Buxton exerted pressure. In Boro attacks, Alex Purver drilled wide, then the hard working Purver won possession, passed to Alex Wiles, who sent Rio Allan racing through, and his low shot forced a good diving save from keeper Young. Just before the interval, a Wiles shot was deflected wide by Trueman.
Early in the second half an in-swinging Colville corner was tipped over by Young, but Bucks then went close as Brennan curled an effort over and Coleman fired narrowly wide, before they went ahead on the hour when the pacy Coleman surged forward and crashed his shot past the dive of Whitley. They then doubled their lead, when Brennan netted after racing onto a precise through-ball from Connor Douglas. Boro immediately reduced the deficit when a fabulous ball over the top from Wiles found Ste Walker, who clinically slotted past Young.
Boro were right back in the game, and Allan fired over from Colville lay-off, then Hull passed to Walker who shot narrowly wide, but the tremendous pace of the Bucks strike force sealed them the game, with two fantastic strikes on the counter-attack. Johnny Johnston charged down the left, got to the bye-line and passed into the goalmouth, for Coleman to rifle in his second goal, then Johnstone shot just over. They went 4-1 up when Brennan flicked-on to sub Ashton Mee, who smashed his shot into the top right corner, but Boro added a deserved late consolation, when Green converted a neat pull-back from Alex Brown on the left.
