Gate 4
Buxton 2-2 Worksop Town (National League North)
It’s been a while since I have been up here, I previously stated that it might even be the highest ground in England, although I have since found out ‘unofficially’ there are 34 football pitches even higher up the hills than Silverlands (which stands apparently 1,027ft above sea level), the Wearhead Ground in Durham at 1,594 feet is home of Wearhead United and said to be the highest of all, a good 567 feet above the hilltop home of Buxton in Derbyshire.
Silverlands is not even the highest ground with a turnstile as Stocksbridge Park Steels home at Bracken Moor stands at 1,033ft, so I’m not entirely sure how it’s all measured or how we came to the conclusion that Buxton trumps all, but I do have it as the highest ground in the top six divisions of English football at least.
Buxton are not so high in their table this season though, currently tenth in the National League North they are on sixteen points from eleven played which is eight points lower than leaders Macclesfield. Their opponents today, Worksop are fifteenth on fifteen points, so a win for the away side would see them leapfrog their hosts, should Buxton take all three points, it would likely push them towards the playoff places above.
The Bucks have Jordan Broadbent in charge since the summer, they have lost their last three without scoring in league and cup, whilst Worksop under Craig Parry won last time out, a 2-1 victory secured at Sandy Lane over Morecambe.
A Notts v Derbyshire derby? Not quite? Worksop is an hour and sixteen from Buxton which is probably nearer Manchester than Derby, Worksop maybe based in the county of Nottinghamshire but I know they tend to feel closer to Sheffield at heart, but a north midlands rivalry nonetheless, last season The Tigers were beaten by the Bucks in both games played and their last win here was way back in 2013.
My own journey is over 90 minutes at 49 miles each way, the wife’s been to Costco this morning so is cutting it fine getting back home for the dog who’s been fed and walked ahead of her return, the sun shining blue skies with a bit of nip in the Autumnal air.
I’m through Nottingham and up past Ikea at Eastwood, on the A610 towards Codnor eventually hitting the A6 up to Matlock. It’s a picturesque drive as I turn off at Cromford and over the Via Gellia Road to Newhaven as I enter the Peak District National Park with views of the hills of the highest peaks of all around. Eventually I’m into the town of Buxton, pulling up on a sidestreet just a short walk away from Silverlands.
The Venue
Posh stone-built houses on a quiet tree lined road, the ground appears seemingly from nowhere behind grey stone walls and quite usefully, opposite Buxton Police Station.
“Gate 4” I’m told is for accreditation. The fella on the door has my first name wrong. “I’ve got you down as Chris” he says, before letting me in whilst scribbling out the error in biro on his guestlist.
Inside the venue is classic, quintessential with terracing covered behind one goal, a low roofed stand down one wing is lined by the back with terraced houses and superb views up onto the hills in the distance. The main stand is covered with blue seats hogging half way, posts propping up the roof, one quite big pylon in front blocks half the view of the goal to the left, behind that is an uncovered area, and in the far corner a jazzy looking electric scoreboard.
It’s a great ground, as grounds go a real traditional type that resonates with the good old English non league game, the only downfall a 4g pitch that is almost (perhaps deliberately) silver-like in appearance, it glistens more grey than green and takes a bit of grassy nostalgia away from the venue, but in these parts needs must, being so high up I’ve seen games called off here in September and April for snow, so by having this all weather surface in play, it has been a bit of a game changer in recent years.
The Game
I’ve sat down a good hour and wrote the teams out in my little black book whilst watching the warmups, Worksop are in white today, Buxton blue, as both come out to do battle in the sunshine.
The last two games I watched have both had goals scored within the opening minute. Worksop have a debutant in attack, former England youth international Mason Bennett is on loan from Harrogate, he’s sent through no sooner than the game kicks off, wrestling Bucks opponents to the floor, he runs through and confidently finishes off a debut Tigers goal, the 30-year-old has a lot of Football League experience and within seconds has shown his new team-mates what he can do. What a start for Worksop Town, welcome to the Tigers Mason.
That start gets better, Buxton aren’t at it at all, a free kick pumped into the box by Mason O'Malley finds Vaughan Redford at the back post, his diving header has Worksop two up, there’s only nine minutes been played.
It’s quiet, flat inside of Silverlands, usually a buoyant crowd and there's a good 900 plus but no bounce today, no noise, Buxton hardly touch gloves with Worksop who are solid, organised, better in midfield, other than a couple of long throws into the box by Sisa Tuntulwana, Worksop have no troubles in dealing with their opponents attacking threat. They deserve their two goal lead at the break.
The Score
It’s much the same stale demeanour as the second half starts, Buxton don’t really have the bit between their teeth yet whilst Worksop are caught in two minds, to stick, or to attempt twist, they do neither and fall into the trap of having that dangerous two goal cushion cut down.
Sammy Robinson makes an early entrance off the bench in blue, I think he’d been out injured and is a bit of a crowd pleaser in these parts, a passionate ‘give it your all’ kind of no-nonsense style full back, the bald-headed baller gives the home support a bit of a lift as he enters the field on 52, a few minutes later Buxton are pressing, a couple of corners are won and one is swung over to the back post, headed home by Kieran Burton, unmarked, game on, suddenly Worksop from a comfortable advantage, might now have to start grafting to keep their slimming lead from sliding away.
Graft they do, but it’s not enough, as Buxton now have the crowd on their side and the tendency to attack with gritted teeth grinding whilst chomping at the bit, another ball pumped in is brilliantly diverted home by Devlan Moses, 2-2 and a good half hour still to play.
That ramps the decibel levels up and it finally feels like a football match with meaning, by now it’s getting scrappy, a couple of cautions, one for Tony Weston, has the Referee cause himself mayhem in a quick outburst he books Weston again for what is said to be a dive, issuing a red card and ordering the player off the pitch, before completely going back on his decision, after a quick chat with the linesman.
Later on the Referee books Finn Cousin-Dawson, I personally thought he’d been booked already, it’s all a bit messy, a bit stop start as Worksop slow the clock down with numerous subs, whilst both teams pick up a few cards, some handbags late on has home goalkeeper Logan Stretch lash out at Deegan Atherton for stopping him quickly releasing the ball, it’s been a feisty end to what started as a flat tempo match which at times felt like an end of season playout, how a football game can change, with its tempers, tempos and goals, the second half much better than the first, especially from a Buxton perspective.
The Stars
The home side weren’t great if I'm honest, Sisa Tuntulwana signed from Gainsborough Trinity in the summer is one I had come to see play, he played left side but was largely well dealt with by Worksop’s Jordan Cropper at right back. Kieran Burton is a defender who always gives it his all, he did well, grabbed a goal from left back and helped his team back into the match, but there wasn’t much else to enjoy from the hosts, Tony Weston quiet, Max Woltman flattering to deceive, Devlan Moses on loan from Sheffield Wednesday despite a really well taken goal himself, was fairly quiet in attack.
As for Worksop, they had more of the ball, and probably created the better chances, even at 2-2 they could have nicked a win on the road as Mason Bennett who scrapped for pieces all afternoon on his debut, with a late effort where he forced a good diving stop from Stretch, he could even have won it for his new team and played well, he still has a lot to offer in the game.
I like the Tigers midfield and in Aleks Starcenko they have had a really good player, a tall Latvian playmaker who’s been at the club since 2020, who makes the side tick with skill and presence. Vaughan Redford is another who’s been at Worksop a while, who works hard for his team with a touch of quality, whilst in defence the likes of Josh Wilde and Deegan Atherton have also been at Sandy Lane for a number of years, unusual for this level of football that so many have settled so long in one place, which is testament to Manager Craig Parry who is in his seventh season at the club, having gained two promotions already in his time.
The Verdict
Two solid sides for the division, one playing not so well, another doing ok, both would arguably be disappointed with elements of this game, neither too disappointed with the end result and a well-earned point a piece.
Whilst I have seen better versions of Buxton in the past, this one is more than adequate to be pushing for the playoffs, perhaps one or two more captures will help their cause? A centre half and a striker short for me. As for Worksop, a team that are growing in this division, are one that will take plenty of points off those in, around, and even above them. I really like what Craig Parry has done at the club, and as long as he’s at the wheel, the Tigers will keep doing ok.
The Teams
Buxton: Logan Stretch, Finn Cousin-Dawson, George Cooper, Kieran Burton, Sisa Tuntulwana, Tony Weston (Josh Pescatore 77), Max Woltman (Johnny Johnston 77), Ashton Mee (Sammy Robinson 52), Devlan Moses (Owen Devenport 77), Kian Scales, Oliver Tipton.
Worksop Town: Max Deanley, Deegan Atherton, Josh Wilde, Vaughan Redford, Aleks Starcenko, Oliver Greaves, Lewis Whitham (Chae Whitman-Brown 82), Mason O’Malley, Jordan Cropper (Sam Essien 74), Liam Waldock, Mason Bennett (Ryan Viggars 84).
3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 17th October 2026, Silverlands, Buxton (att 933).
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