The result, however, was much closer than the 4-0 FA Cup debacle, but once again Buxton enjoyed a majority of possession without being able to profit from the few clear scoring chances created.

For their part, Stourbridge, understandably preoccupied by Saturday's plum tie against Walsall, employed a defensive 4-5-1 line-up, being content to soak up pressure, relieved by the occasional break-out.

The Bucks began well up the slope, with some promising approach play, but when the visitors responded danger man Sean Evans beat three men in midfield only to be fouled, and thereafter featured little.

Nonetheless, it was the Glassboys who fashioned the first goalscoring opportunity. A ball over Gregg Anderson saw striker Ryan Rowe close in on goal, but the home captain made a fine recovering tackle.

Buxton's Michael Towey twice played impressively accurate cross-field passes to spark attacks, but from a good position Gavin Knight's shot was blocked.

In general, Stourbridge's defence coped well, particularly with aerial crosses, though in the 26th minute a superb Tommy Agus ball into the danger area gave Kieran Lugsden a heading opportunity, but his effort flew narrowly wide.

Knight had an even better opportunity as the second half opened, with Steve Ridley's through ball playing him in, but he delayed his shot and the chance was gone.

As the hour mark approached, the controversy began. Referee Day had already cautioned several players for fouls when Evans was indeed fortunate not to be shown a second yellow for a similar indiscretion and he was substituted soon afterwards.

Five minutes after the Evans incident, the referee did show a red card after consulting his assistant.

The recipient was Buxton keeper Scott Hartley, who had grabbed a through ball at the edge of his penalty area.

The decision was widely considered to be very harsh for what was a marginal misjudgment, rather than a deliberate handball.

To add insult to injury, 12 minutes later his deputy, Knight, conceded the goal that decided the tie.

Play was switched to the left from where Aaron Drake's piercing 20-yard drive took a slight deflection, with the emerging keeper's hands only diverting the ball into the corner of the net.

Stourbridge now looked to make the game safe, but there was more controversy as the visitors' substitute Linden Dovey and Knight both justifiably went for a through ball, but Dovey was dismissed for his challenge to make numbers even again.

The Bucks seized the initiative, with substitute Neil Stevens going close from 20 yards, and a penalty award seemed certain when Ross Collins felled Lugsden, but instead the attacker was sent off for a second yellow as the referee remarkably deemed his fall to be a dive.

Even then Buxton pressed for an equaliser, with Knight and defenders pushing forward to leave the home goal unguarded, but a free kick and a corner produced no reward, leaving Buxton to rue missed chances, some indifferent refereeing and the absence of reserve keeper Tom Pressman from the substitutes bench.

With thanks to the Buxtoin Advertiser