Match Report: Buxton 0-2 South Shields

Paul Blackett's brace secured all three points for South Shields against 10-man Buxton.

The Mariners travelled to Derbyshire on the back of a home win against Chorley in midweek courtesy of a late Dylan Stephenson winner.

Elliott Dickman made one change from the side that won on Tuesday night, as Will Jenkins returned to the squad for the first time since his dismissal against Darlington.

The hosts also made a singular change from their midweek victory away to Peterborough Sports, as Luke Shiels replaced Dylan Mottley-Henry who is on loan from the Mariners.

Buxton started the game brightly, creating a number of chances that would shake the Shields defence, including Diego De Girolamo's 3rd-minute strike that would hit the post.

Mackenzie Heaney - on his return to the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium - would prove to be the thorn in the Bucks' side with plenty of chances coming the way of the midfielder.

Heaney would also be the catalyst in the opening goal in the 34th-minute as he made his way through two Buxton players to put the ball on a plate for Paul Blackett who would slot home coolly.

The talking point of the second half was the dismissal of Buxton's Jak McCourt on 58 minutes after verbally abusing the officials despite his team winning the foul.

The extra man would soon play advantage for Shields as they took more control of the game.

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Joe Young would prove to be Buxton's standout player, denying Blackett and Heaney on multiple occasions as well as bravely lunging in to deny Aaron Martin in the 76th minute.

Blackett would double the Mariners', and his own tally in the 83rd minute, once again slotting the ball home after a delicious pass from Will Jenkins to give Shields a two-goal cushion with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.

Despite some late chances from the Bucks, Shields managed to hold on and take maximum points back to the North East.

The result left Dickman's side in ninth place, three points off the play-offs with a game in hand over next week's opponents Chester in sixth.