In the previous five weeks, the Bucks had managed to play just one game while the Dabbers had won all three of their matches, yet it was the visitors who showed no signs of rust and outplayed Town.

The strikers and wide men from the outset pressurised the Nantwich defenders into a state of discomfort, and one such example produced the opening goal after just seven minutes.

Steve Ridley forced a throw-in deep on the left, took it quickly to Michael Towey who, with neat, fancy footwork, bypassed two defenders to shoot across goal where Gavin Knight was waiting at the far post.

Town's situation should have been worsened three minutes later when home centre half and skipper Darren Tinson fouled Knight. As the last man in defence, he was fortunate to escape with a caution.

Buxton's Joe Wilcox made a strong run up the left only to see his dangerous low cross diverted for a corner.

But Buxton's advantage was soon doubled. Referee Anderson was again lenient towards Tinson following what looked suspiciously like a deliberate handball, but Ridley punished Nantwich from the free kick with a wickedly curling 22-yard shot into the top corner to leave keeper Lee Jones motionless.

By then Nantwich had at last managed an effort on goal, a 20-yard shot which was comfortably held by Scott Hartley, who soon after repeated the act, fielding a shot by Dave Macpherson after Towey had been robbed.

Just past the half hour, however, the Buxton keeper produced a fine save from Ash Carter. But then in added time, Town's Richie Sutton was dismissed for a two-footed lunge into Scott Maxfield.

And within minutes of the start of the second half, Buxton scored a third goal to end the game as a contest.

The Bucks had restarted in fine style, with Maxfield's 25-yard shot from a Mark Reed lay-back forcing Jones to concede a corner kick, from which his fumble allowed Knight to find the net with a superbly-executed curling shot into the far top corner.

To their credit, Nantwich persevered and Hartley had to save from ex-Derby County striker Marvin Robinson, but Buxton continued to make more of the openings with Neil Stevens close to scoring from a fine Tommy Agus long pass and Reed's controlled header narrowly missing the target.

Loan signing Cayne Hanley was introduced and made an immediate impact, firing in a right-wing low cross poked narrowly wide by Stevens, before he fired just over the bar.

Knight also hit the post close to the final whistle, as the Bucks recorded their fifth consecutive league victory.