Schoolboy defending cost Matlock dearly as the Bucks Mark Reed plundered a hat-trick in this Good Friday relegation six pointer at the Silverlands.
Reed hit the first three, Neil Stevens the fourth before substitute Danny Wood's late consolati
on after the Gladiators had wasted enough good chances beforehand.
Mistakes at both ends of the pitch therefore mean that the Gladiators now have a huge fight on their hands to retain their Premier Division status.
All the good work from thrashing Marine in their previous home game had been destroyed in one foul swoop.
Manager Mark Atkins opted for an attacking line up with a 4-3-3 formation.
Ian Clarke was given his first start in three seasons in midfield while Dene Cropper partnered Danny Davidson down the centre of the attack with Jamie Jackson on the right.
Ross Hannah, along with Wood were on the bench.
The Bucks, playing up the slope won two early corners, the second of which was competently plucked out of the soggy air by Paul Pettinger, who was blameless in all of the Bucks goals.
Matlock replied to earn two flag kicks of their own, the first created by Liam King's shot which was deflected wide after a promising move.
Davidson took a knock in the melee from the second corner but was fit to carry on after treatment from Mick Cunningham. P
aul Riley did well to fend off Michael Towey after a neat flick from Gavin Knight before at the other end after Jackson had been fouled on the left, Clarke's free kick just missed the head of the onrushing Davidson.
But the first bit of sloppy Matlock defending was punished on 10 minutes.
Failing to clear a right wing corner effectively, the ball was quickly returned to the danger zone and REED volleyed superbly home from eight yards.
Captain Steve Warne robbed Steve Ridley on the right to cut in to the penalty box but Scott Hartley was down smartly to grab his low centre.
Buxton were soon back on the offensive to win a free kick twenty five yards out which saw Pettinger confidently tip Scott Maxfield's strike over the bar. Soon afterwards James Turley found Knight who drove well wide of Pettinger's left hand post.
But more calamitious defending gifted Buxton and REED the chance to double the lead on 24 minutes.
The ball wsas played long up the middle and Ryan Laight dithered and failed to get in a telling clearance.
When the ball dropped to Reed, he calmly slipped a low finish into the corner to put the Gladiators in deep trouble, caused by the visitors lack of authority in defence.
But strangely the scores might have been level by the 32nd minute as Matlock missed two gilt edged opportunities in two minutes.
Davidson and Clarke produced the first chance and from virtually point blank range, Davidson's low hard cross seemed to strike Cropper and the ball flashed agonisingly wide.
Then Davidson was involved again in a lovely move which released Warne dashing into the penalty box, but with only Hartley to beat, Warne scooped his shot high and wide.
Whether the formation selected was working was open to debate.
Matlock had created chances going forward but were often a man down in midfield and probably needed someone sitting in as an insurance for a shaky back four.
Lee Featherstone replaced Riley at left back and the opening half closed with Matlock wasting a free kick and the hosts breaking at speed for Reed to head narrowly over from a Grant Black cross.
Soon after the resumption Hannah came on for Clarke as the Gladiators now had four strikers, including Jackson, on the field.
It was muck or nettles stuff now, but by the 56 th minute it was effectively game over as far as Matlock were concerned. This was by far the worst of the goals conceded as Ashley Foyle failed to deal with a long pass letting REED in before him.
Even then though. the situation should have been dealt with as there were two other defenders there, but nobody took responsibility as Reed twisted and turned before threading a low shot past Pettinger.
A frustrated Hannah was booked for a late challenge on Maxfield and was perhaps a touch fortunate not to receive a red card.
Typical of Matlock's afternoon to forget was a freee kick totally messed up just a couple of yards outside the penalty box.
They did however regain possession and Warne's chip dropped just to late as it cleared the bar.
At times Matlock looked as if they were trying to walk the ball in and after a good passing move on 64 minutes, Davidson's strike took a deflection, looping up for Hartley to claim.
But Buxton had made it more difficult for Davidson, by quickly closing him down, something that the Gladiators defenders did not seem capable of doing.
Another chance came on 69 minutes as Davidson's powerful header from a Hannah cross was blocked by Hartley, more by luck than judgement, but it still stayed out.
Then Laight carelessly sliced high and wide when well placed after a corner had been nodded down by Davidson before Hartley comfortably gathered a twenty yarder from King.
But Reed wasn't finished as he played a key role in Buxton making it 4-0 in the 79th minute.
Again he outbattled a brittle Town rearguard to hold up play intelligently before letting in NEIL STEVENS who gave an exposed Pettinger absolutely no chance with a calm finish.
WOOD pulled one back beating Hartley from the edge of the box and might have grabbed a second but Hartley was soon out to smother after he had worked his way in from the left.
But the damage had been done and the diagnosis might now be terminal for Matlock.
Too many players let the day pass them by.
Too many could have done more.
Buxton will survive because they worked harder as a unit.
This had been the case in both league games which brought them six points against the Gladiators. On the evidence of these two games, Buxton appear to be in a false position.
A group of Town fans had walked to the game to raise funds for the New Stand Appeal and they left the Silverlands feeling embarrassingly shortchanged by their team.
Matlock have it all to do now as they slipped back to third bottom. As I said after the Buxton home defeat on March 11, the team must now prove to their followers that they have the determination to stay up.
And if they make it a hat-trick of poor performances against the Bucks at Pride Park in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final, the trophy without question, will be bound for the Silverlands.
Matlock Town: Pettinger, Brough, Riley (Featherstone 38), King, Foyle, Laight, Jackson, Warne, Davidson, Cropper (Wood 65), Clarke (Hannah 50) Other subs: Thorpe, Buxton.
Referee: S Hunter (Sheffield)
Attendance: 702
Star man: Steve Warne.
