MATLOCK banished their New Year nightmare and destroyed UniBond Premier Division play-off chasers Buxton on Good Friday.

But there was heartache for Gladiators loanee Stef Frost, who faces a long lay-off from a broken leg.

The eighteen-year-old front man, on-loan from Notts County, was felled by a challenge from Gregg Anderson in the fifth minute, which earned the Buxton number five a straight red card and prompted a brawl involving most players from both sides.

The teams were taken off the pitch as an ambulance was called.

The seriousness of Frost's injury was emphasised by the 45 minute delay to the game as he was treated and attended to by medical staff from both clubs and paramedics.

Later it was reported he had suffered fractures to the tibia and fibia and has been transferred to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre, where he is being monitored by the Magpies' medical team.

Once the game got underway again, Matlock, playing three strikers in Simon Barraclough, Ben Kistell and Steve Taylor, on for Frost, wasted little time in pinning ten-man Buxton back in their own half.

Rarely did the visitors threaten in the entire game and the impressive Matthew Thorpe was the first to go close, shooting into the side netting after a sweet move started by Nathan Benger and involving Barraclough and Kistell.

But Paul Riley did find the target with a trademark thumping strike from 18 yards eight minutes before the break.

Matlock were utterly dominant in the second half, with the strong northerly wind behind them acting as a 12th man, and they put the game out of sight by the hour.

James Lukic had already gone close with a far post header before Nathan Benger forced a fine save from Scott Hartley which resulted in the first of two successive corners.

From the second, Riley intelligently used the wind to whip in a delivery that found Barraclough unmarked at the far post and the striker simply turned the ball into the net.

Six minutes later, Ryan Davis broke down the left and found the supporting Thorpe.

He fed Taylor and his subtle cut-back was neatly placed in the bottom right hand corner of the net by Barraclough for his second goal.

Barraclough could have had a hat-trick after substitute Reuben Wiggins-Thomas demonstrated his electric pace and the presence of mind to find the striker, but Hartley pulled off a good reaction save as Barraclough delayed his finish, and when he got a second bite Barraclough's lob came back off the bar into the keeper's arms.

Hartley also made a good near post stop from Kistell, who consistently showed plenty of good approach work but lacked a really threatening end product.

Wiggins-Thomas was denied what looked a stonewall penalty as injury time approached, but the rejuvenated Gladiators had already done more than enough to humble their north Derbyshire rivals.

Full report in next Thursday's Matlock Mercury.

For the latest league table, click here.

Matlock travel to Hednesford Town on Easter Monday (3pm).