Matlock took a giant leap towards safety with an emphatic victory, but only after the afternoon was tainted by a serious injury to Matlock midfielder Stef Frost in only the third minute.

 

Frost was left writhing in agony by a horrible challenge by Bucks centre half Gregg Anderson in front of the Matlock dug out which led to an unsavoury melee involving both teams and benches. It was a challenge that has no place in football.

 

When referee David Benton restored order Anderson was sent off and the official escorted both teams to the sanctuary of their dressing rooms while Frost received care and treatment for a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula.

 

Play restarted a full fifty minutes alter with Frost on his way by ambulance to the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital before later being transferred to Nottingham's Queens Medical Centre.

 

Matlock had made just one change from the line up which had fared well against promotion chasing Fleetwood six days earlier. Gary Webster was out with a foot injury so Ryan Davis was recalled at left back with Paul Riley pushing up into midfield.

 

Frost made an impact before his awful injury, playing Simon Barraclough through inside 25 seconds only for Buxton goalkeeper Scott Hartley to save well.

 

After the long break, Ben Kistell was briught down by Grant Black almost immediately, before Kistell drove high and wide after a neat interchange involving substitute Steve Taylor and Barraclough.

 

Buxton had the wind with them as they attacked the cricket end in the opening half but seldom caused Matlock any alarm. Neil Ross lifted an effort way too high after Matlock gave away possession from their own throw, but Gladiators goalkeeper Andy Richmond didn't have a save to make in the entire game, save from grabbing a low centre from the right by Tony Lennon, brother of Spurs winger Arron.

 

A weak Taylor strike was easily fielded by Hartley who looked clearly in discomfort with defenders having to take goal kicks for him.

 

Matlock were starting to boss the midfield with Matt Thorpe's and Nathan Benger's energy and after a promising foray on the left, Thorpe squeezed a shot into the sidenetting before on the opposite flank, a determined break from the ever improving full back Cameron Fearon ended with Hartley being well positioned to hold Taylor's strike.

 

But Fearon was involved again as Matlock swept in front with a fine 37th minute goal. Again he broke at pace on the right and his cross was touched on by both Taylor and Barraclough for the advancing PAUL RILEY to hammer in a fiercely struck twenty yarder which arrowed past Hartley and into the bottom corner.

 

Buxton, clearly rattled had Scott Maxfield booked for dissent, and if they were to find a way back against a determined Gladiators side who were intent on picking up the points for their stricken youngster Frost, and for a step to mid table security, they would need to show a lot more controlled desire than they had in the first forty five minutes.

 

But Matlock went on to dominate the second half from first whistle to last and they could have heaped more embarrassment on their visitors by winning by a more emphatic margin.

 

They were immediately on the attack and following a lovely passing move, Riley shot ferociously goalwards only to see team mate Thorpe get in the way and do Buxton's blocking job for them. Black was yellow carded for fouling Barraclough just outside the box and from the free kick floated in by Riley, skipper James Lukic planted a header narrowly wide of the far post.

 

Barraclough then teed up Benger to blast in a twenty yarder which was superbly kept out by Hartley. Buxton were rocking and if the Gladiators could get that second goal, surely the points would stay in the Derbyshire Dales.

 

That important addition to the Gladiators tally was not long in coming as from the third successive corner, on 53 minutes, BARRACLOUGH could not believe the space he was given at the back stick to turn in Riley's delivery. Matlock were well on the way to avenging that 5-1 New Years Day debacle at the Silverlands.

 

They continued to pour forward as Bucks skipper Terry Bowker worked overtime to keep the Gladiators at bay, but they were indebted to Hartley again as a great diving save stopped Taylor from writing his name on the scoresheet before Bowker bravely blocked the follow up from Ryan Laight.

 

Having brought off James Turley for Michael Towey on 48 minutes, Buxton's last throw of the dice saw them replace Mark Lees and Neil Ross with Mark Wilson and Jason Bradley ten minutes later, but just sixty seconds later it was game over. 

 

Kistell's shot was charged down but Taylor regained possession to slip an intelligent pass inside for BARRACLOUGH to fire gleefully home.

 

Then it was a case of just how many Matlock would score, and equally important was trying to keep a clean sheet. The latter was achieved with the utmost of ease with the haction almost exclusively in the Bucks half. Kistell twice drove off target before Barraclough had an excellent chance to complete a hat trick.

 

Substitute Reuben Wiggins-Thomas raced two thirds of the length of the pitch leaving tired Bucks defenders trailing in his wake, before finding Barraclough with a low pass from the left. But the tiny striker wanted a shade too much time and Hartley foiled him with another outstanding save.

 

Wilson talked his way into Mr Benton's notebook late on while Matlock's sole caution in a disciplined display was that of Taylor for tripping Maxfield.

 

So three excellent points for the Gladiators with outstanding contributions all over the park. With such a young side there is hope for the future and joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams should be praised for the recent signings such as Thorpe and Kistell who look exciting players, plus the bold move of converting striker Nathan Benger to a midfield, a role he appears to be relishing.

 

Thoughts though will be with Frost and hopefully he will have a full and successful recovery.

 

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Fearon, Riley, Benger, Laight, Lukic, Davis, Thorpe (Wiggins-Thomas 77), Kistell, Barraclough, Frost (Taylor 3) Other sub: Circuit.

 

BUXTON: Hartley, Black, Maxfield, Bowker, Anderson, Foster, Lennon, Lees (Wilson 58), Ross (Bradley 58), Walker, Turley (Towey 48)

 

REFEREE: D Benton (Sheffield)  ATTENDANCE: 711  STAR MAN: Nathan Benger.