MATCH REPORT | Buckley Town 2-2 Gresford Athletic | 2023/24 JD Cymru North, Matchday 29

Gresford Athletic are forced to take a point after a late equaliser away against Buckley Town on matchday 29 of the 2023/24 JD Cymru North on Saturday.

The game got off to the worst possible start for Gresford Athletic, as Max Moore opened the scoring within six minutes to put Buckley Town ahead, slamming it into the bottom corner.

Charlie Mann almost found the equaliser in the 28th minute, but it was a good save from Buckley Town's Ryan Goldston to stop his shot.

It was almost a second goal for The Bucks in the 39th minute, when a decent effort hit the inside of the post and came back out without crossing the line.

The wind made things difficult in the first half and Gresford Athletic went in at half time at 1-0 down, with work to do in the second 45 minutes.

Gresford Athletic came out for the second half and looked to find an equaliser, which was eventually grabbed by Charlie Mann in the 56th-minute, where his free-kick zipped past everyone in the box and hit the back of the net to level the scoring.

The Colliers then wanted to sniff out a goal to give them the lead, as Toby Gallagher-Keenan fired the ball towards goal from 20-yards out, but it went wide in the 67th minute.

Then, with 10 minutes to go on the clock, Gresford Athletic found their second goal, when Adam Hesp laid the ball off for substitute Harvey Ellis, who stepped up and scored with a screamer from 25-yards out to give The Colliers the lead in the 79th minute.

Charlie Mann was close to finding his second goal of the game, blasting a free-kick towards goal with 88 minutes on the clock, but again, Buckley Town goalkeeper Ryan Goldston was there to get in the way.

However, Gresford Athletic unfortunately could not hold on and in the 93rd minute of the game, Buckley Town found an equaliser through Adam Smith's massively deflected effort.

Gresford Athletic were forced to settle for a point as the full time whistle blew on the penultimate league game of the season, but the lads can take pride in coming back from a losing position.

Toby Gallagher-Keenan was voted Gresford Athletic Man of the Match, putting in a good performance to help come back from a losing position and earn a point.

Buckley Town

Starting XI: Goldston (GK), Smith, D. Roberts, Allen, Humphries (C), Burgess, Bellis, K. Moore (Hamilton - 67'), Littler (McHarrie - 57'), Driscoll, M. Moore

Goalscorers: M. Moore, Smith

Yellow cards: Smith, Humphries

Subs not used: Downey (GK), C. Roberts, Holland, Edwards

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Dutton (GK), Smith, Hesp, Williams (Bennett - 55'), Buxton (Roberts - 76'), Griffiths (C), Pownall (Ellis - 76'), Mann, Edge, Deacon (Chaplin 55'), Gallagher-Keenan

Goalscorers: Mann, Ellis

Yellow cards: Williams

Match Officials

Referee: Mark James

Assistant Referees: Richard Dolphin, Harvey Williams