HONOURS finished even in the first A6 derby of the season as Matlock Town came from behind to secure a UniBond Premier Division draw with Buxton.

Both sides' top strikers were on the score sheet, with Mark Reed putting the Bucks ahead and Ross Hannah scoring the Gladiators' second-half equaliser – his 25th goal of the season.

Buxton looked the stronger side early on but it was Matlock who nearly took the lead as Scott Hartley saved well from Nathan Joynes.

But Town were chasing the game when Reed turned sharply and Adam Sollitt could not keep out his shot.

Before that 24th-minute goal, Buxton went close through headers from Gregg Anderson and Reed.

Early in the second-half, Cayne Hanley struck the Matlock bar from point-blank range and, as the Bucks stormed forward in an attempt to double their lead, Sollitt made an outstanding save from a Reed header.

Hartley pulled off two fine stops from Hannah and Liam King before Hannah stroked in a low shot for the Gladiators' equaliser after 61 minutes.

As Matlock went for the win, Joynes missed badly twice and a Hannah header narrowly cleared the bar but Buxton finished strongly and had a penalty appeal denied.

MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Yates, Brough, King, Haran, Lukic, Hall (Bengar, 52), Warne, Joynes, Hannah, Algar. Other subs: Wood, Cropper, Wain, Buxton.

BUXTON: Hartley, Black, Agus, Liversidge, Anderson, Maxfield, Lugsden (Stevens, 88), Towey (Miller, 90), Reed, Hanley (Wilcox, 67), Ridley. Other sub: Vize.

REFEREE: M Bell (Rotherham).

ATTENDANCE: 477.