Key Highlights
- Chatham Town suffered a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Buxton in the FA Cup first round.
- Forward Tope Fadahunsi scored Chatham’s only goal of the match.
- Kevin Hake expressed pride in his team’s performance despite the loss.
- Buxton’s Tate Campbell and Connor Kirby contributed crucial goals for Buxton.
Chatham Town’s FA Cup Drama Ends with Extra-Time Defeat to Buxton
On Saturday, November 2nd, 2025, Chatham Town FC’s FA Cup journey came to a dramatic end as they were defeated by National League North side Buxton in extra-time. The match was played at the home of Buxton and drew a crowd of 1,652 spectators.
Match Recap
Chatham Town’s forward Tope Fadahunsi opened the scoring for the club early on with his own fine goal, putting them ahead in the match. However, this lead was short-lived as Buxton equalized through midfielder Tate Campbell. The stalemate continued until extra-time, where Chatham’s captain Connor Kirby delivered a moment of magic by firing past goalkeeper Henry Molyneux to secure Buxton’s 2-1 victory.
Managerial Reaction
Chatham Town manager Kevin Hake expressed pride in his team’s efforts despite the defeat. He stated, “I’m really proud of my boys and the way they have conducted themselves. They have gone toe-to-toe with a top side.
If you’re going to go out, go out to a worldie like that.”
Hake also mentioned the positive reception from both sets of fans: “All credit to the lad – he has hit a blinder there. But we’re getting applauded off the pitch by both sets of fans. That tells you something about the magnitude of our performance.”
Opinion from Buxton
Buxton’s manager John McGrath praised Chatham for their excellent display, saying, “They were excellent. When the draw first came out, we did our due diligence. We had them watched live, and we had them watched on VEO and Huddle (highlights) and all that kind of business.
I was really impressed with them.”
McGrath also acknowledged the unique style of play from Chatham: “They’re similar to us. They try to get the ball down and they play. The goalkeeper is really good with his feet, the full-backs were good, and that’s why I knew it was going to be a hard game.”
Chatham Town’s Future
Third-placed Chatham Town FC returns to league matters on Tuesday when they face surprise strugglers Billericay. Former Chatham captain Jack Evans could potentially face his old club as he now plays for the Essex outfit.
The match against Buxton showcased Chatham’s best-ever FA Cup run, with Hake noting that this was their most successful campaign in 97 years. Despite the loss, Kevin Hake’s pride and acknowledgment of his team’s performance reflect a positive outcome from what could have been a demoralizing defeat.
