COLE FIRED
Stockton punishes plucky minnows
BILL MILLS
STEVE CUNNINGHAM believes Buxton can be proud of themselves despite seeing their FA Cup dreams ended.
The seventh-tier side enjoyed a bright start against their League One opponents and hit the post in the early stages.
However, Cole Stockton’s 29thminute goal on a wet and windy afternoon in Derbyshire eventually saw the Shrimps into round three.
“The lads have put the club and Buxton as a town on the football map,” said boss Cunningham. “They stood up to the challenge of Morecambe and the conditions and didn’t show the gulf in divisions.
“It is a game of fine margins and fine margins have undone us in this game. We needed to try and take advantage of the wind in the first-half.
“I thought a goal was coming in the first 15 minutes and if it had have, we would have had something to hang on to.
“We gave a very good team a very good go and we have to feel immensely proud of what we have done.”
The home side nearly took the lead when Diego De Girolamo hit the woodwork after 13 minutes. Stockton then fired the Shrimps ahead with a cool finish after Shane McLoughlin played him in just before the half-hour.
“It was a very professional performance,” said Morecambe boss Stephen Robinson (left).
“The weather took away any advantage we had, I don’t think we have ever played in conditions as bad as that.
“The object before the game was just to get through, it didn’t matter how.
“Everyone expected us to win. If we don’t it’s a disaster but if we win no-one says anything.
“Credit to Buxton, they pushed us. It was not easy and the lads showed character.”