MANAGER Steve Watson joked that York City might be better off drawing National League opposition in the next round after another tough win at a lower-league side.

Buxton sit bottom of the Northern Premier League premier division - the Step below York - but made life hard for the Minstermen, just as Step 5 side Irlam did a fortnight ago.

Word from the Buxton faithful prior to kick-off was that they are a capable collection of players who have not yet clicked. And that - coupled with something of a sub-par first-half City performance - looked like an ominous harbinger at the break.

Former York loanee forward Diego De Girolamo gave the Bucks a 10th-minute lead with a close-range finish - and so it remained until the 50th minute, when pressure from right-back Nathan Dyer forced Alex Brown to turn a David Ferguson cross into his own net.

With 10 minutes remaining, a Ferguson ball in was again met by Dyer at the back post and he headed across goal, off the corner of the woodwork for Alex Kempster to play back into the six-yard box. Dyer lashed emphatically into the roof of the net.

"We're into the hat Monday," Watson said. "I'm not concerned about the performance because I know what I've seen all season.

"We haven't conceded a goal like that for a long time.

"We didn't defend the second ball well enough, but it's one of those things. If you've played 20 games in a season, you're going to get a goal you're not happy with.

"Obviously we could have defended better, otherwise it wouldn't gone in.

"I said to the lads in the dressing room, a bit tongue-in-cheek, maybe it would be better if we got somebody in the National League.

"I wouldn't say we've dipped below our standards but we haven't dominated the two games.

"I'm just happy watching who comes out."

Asked if he makes a point of telling his players not to underestimate lower-tier sides, Watson said: "I do stress it but I don't think I need to.

"The performances against Irlam and Buxton were not down to a lack of preparation or not taking the opposition seriously.

"We're the highest-rated team in the competition and people lift their game for us. We have to be discipline without the ball and dig in.

"They made us work really hard.

"They're a good side. I think they were a lot better than their league position suggests.

"They were a handful up front and their back three defended the box really well. We had however many corners and they were tremendous in defending.

"They were a tough nut to crack and it was a very tough day at the office."