Bury and Blackpool battled themselves to a stalemate on a sun filled Gigg Lane afternoon, though Shakers keeper Jim Provett was the busier of the two shot stoppers.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Bury on seven minutes when a Richie Baker run, including a clever drag back that deceived totally a visiting defender, saw the ball fall to Nicky Adams, though his curling shot on goal angled itself away from goal.

Richie Baker was involved in the next move, though this time is was Blackpool shooting on goal, this time Shaun Barker fired the ball at goal, only for Baker to throw his body in front of the shot to block the goal bound attempt.

Bury could have done better on 20 minutes when Andy Parrish took the ball down the wing, his clever ball into the middle found Nicky Adams who set the ball up by floating it towards Glynn Hurst, his volley though again failed to find the target, flying wide of the upright and into safety.

Blackpool had a half chance when Andy Morrell blasted a similar volley at goal five minutes later, but this effort, though on target, was right down the throat of Jim Provett and the new Shakers keeper held the ball well.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher attempted a similar volley some five minutes later with the same affect and keeper Provett holding the ball to his chest.Six minutes before half time, Jim Provett received his first real test in competitive action when for Oldham striker Scott Vernon directed a powerful header at goal.

With the Spartan crowd expecting the opening goal, Jim Provett somehow managed to dive and palm the ball away to safety.Just before the break, Bury should have taken the lead when Nicky Adams, who zipped around all afternoon like a jack Russell on speed, collected the ball just inside his own half, charged at goal, but again curled his shot wide of the target.

In the second half, Jim Provett showed the Bury diehards just what he can do with another stunning save, this time from a long range David Fox drive.

By far the best chance of the afternoon came on 78 minutes when Richie Baker took a shot on goal from 30 yards.Keeper Rhys Evans was forced into a diving save, but tipped the ball wide to the feet of Nicky Adams, his curling ball into the box found the head of trialist Marcus Richardson, but his powerful header was easily blocked by Evans before former Shaker Michael Jackson lamped the ball down the field to safety.

Blackpool could have nicked the win at the death when a corner found Ben Burgess on the back stick, but his header skimmed to crossbar and flow over and out of play.

Final Score:  Bury 0 Blackpool 0

Bury:  Jim Provett, Andy Parrish, Colin Woodthorpe, Paul Morgan, Ben Futcher, Dave Challinor, Andy Mangan (Richardson 54), Richie Baker, Glynn Hurst, Nicky Adams, Paul Scott

Substitutes:  Steve Haslam, David Buchanan, Ben Leonard, Dale Stephens, James Dean (Trialist), David Owen (Trialist), Marcus Richardson (Trialist), Jack Dorney (Youth Team), Max Johnson (Youth Team)

Blackpool:  Rhys Evans, Shaun Barker, Michael Jackson, Ian Evatt, Stephen Crainey (Gorkss 54), Adrian Crainey, Adrian Forbes (Jorgensen 54), Keith Southern (Bean 54), David Fox (Flynn 78), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Hills 54), Andy Morrell (Parker 66), Scott Vernon (Burgess 66)

Substitutes:  Paul Rabchuka, Michael Flynn, Ben Burgess, Keigan Parker, John Hills, Claus-Bech Jorgenssen, Marcus Bean, Kaspars Gorkks

Referee:  Mr. Craig Pawson
Assistant:  Mr. Paul Thompson
Assistant:  Mr. Pete Davies
4th Official:  Mr. Barry Lamb