BUXTON'S promising start to the season took a knock on Tuesday night when they suffered a two goal defeat at the Silverlands.

The home side started brightly and a good ball into the box inside the first three minutes looked promising but the threat was quickly snuffed out by Ilkeston's defence, who stood firm all night.

Buxton were pushing forward well in the first fifteen minutes but their hard work went unrewarded as their finishing ability let them down.

New signing Gav Knight had Buxton's best chance of the first game when he had a one on one with Ilkeston's keeper Chris Adamson. Knight tried to take the ball round Adamson but miskicked it leaving Adamson to collect on 25 minutes.

A couple of minutes later and Ilkeston were awarded the first of two controversial penalties when Scott Hartley went for the ball as Ilkeston charged forward. Amari Morgan-Smith, who looked dangerous all night, stepped up to the spot but his initial shot was well saved by Buxton's keeper Scott Hartley, before Morgan-Smith hammered home the rebound.

On the stroke of half time, referee Paul Norris pointed to the spot for a second time. Hartley again saved from Sam Duncum's penalty shot and the ball was well cleared by Buxton's defence.

Adamson did well to save from a tight angle following a Scott Maxfield ball into the area on the hour mark but the home side barely threatened in the second period.

Morgan-Smith compounded Buxton's misery on 67 minutes when he netted his second of the game following a goalmouth scrap after poor defensive work by Buxton.

The game was all but over from then on as Buxton struggled to keep up with the speed and agility of Morgan-Smith and his team mates Anthony Howell and Sam Duncum.

Five minutes before the end, the visitors almost increased their lead with a thunderbolt of a shot that rattled the woodwork before going out of play.

Buxton: Hartley, Black, Maxfield, Hume, Anderson, Lees, Smith (McGuire), Towey, Knight (Balfe), Walker (Wilson), Brodie.

Attendance: 372.