Stourbridge 0, Buxton 3

BUXTON stunned sorry Stour with three early strikes as the Glassboys' miserable end to the season continues.

Manager Gary Hackett's pre-match talk of giving the Amblecote faithful something to cheer during the final home game of the campaign was soon forgotten amid some disastrous defending.

It took today's visitors just six minutes to bag themselves a two-goal advantage.

First Neil Stevens fired in from the edge of the box after just four minutes.

Goalkeeper Lewis Solly could only punch a Buxton corner to the edge of the box where Stevens, who had time and space to mis-hit his first attempt, eventually rifled into the corner.

It then took The Bucks just two minutes to double their lead.

Again it was all too easy as Shaun Tuton tapped in at the far post following a lofted cross from Stour's left flank not long after kick off.

Stour enjoyed plenty of the ball but often rushed it forwards looking in vain for front man Kayelden Brown.

Then, with only 22 minutes on the clock, Buxton made it three.

This time the goal was well worked as the visitors' striking partnership showed their potency.

Goalscorer Tuton did brilliantly out on the left to beat two men and drive his way into the penalty area. He then found Liam Hardy in a central position just inside the box for the forward to drill past Solly for his 24th of the season.

It was all too easy for the visitors as the Glassboys' confidence levels plummeted further.

They did eventually react well to the major set-back and created their best chance of the half when Chris Lait found Drew Canavan at the back post just after the half hour mark.

After flipping the ball beyond the first defender, he could only poke over from a tight angle as another challenge came in.

It meant keeper Arron Jameson remained untested for the entire first half, during which midfielder Derek Niven brilliantly carried Buxton's fight.

The second period saw Bucks content to sit on their three-goal advantage for long spells.

But credit to Stour, they continued to battle on and maybe had the better of things, though you did always feel the visitors had more gears to call on if they'd have been required.

The home side created a good opening on 55 minutes but Brown could only head a good Connolly cross past the far post when unmarked in the area.

After a scrappy period, Stour eventually called Jameson into action in the 82nd minute.

Substitute Luke Benbow worked himself space on the edge of the area before firing powerfully on target.

Jameson managed to get something behind the ball but couldn't prevent it from rebounding back towards Kayelden Brown. However, with the keeper baring down, he could only slot the ball wide.

With that went the Glassboys best chance of the game, as well as any hope that the 434 in attendance would get to see them find the net.

In truth, the stuttering nature of the performance and the ease in which Buxton wrapped up the points with one early spell of dominance, sums up what has been a disappointing season at Amblecote.

It looks like Gary Hackett's mid-season rebuilding job is going to have to continue long into the summer.

Stourbridge: Solly, Canavan (Benbow 68), Knight (Quaynor 48), Richards, Smikle, Fitzpatrick, Connolly, Broadhurst (c), Brown, Morgan-Parker (Tye 71), Lait.

Unused subs: Williams, Miles.

Buxton: Jameson, Doyle (Ollerenshaw 81), Green, Niven, Palmer, Young (c), Stevens, Jordan, Tuton, Hardy, Burbeary (Stacey 77).

Unused subs: McGee, Ryan.

Att: 434.