Team News

Following the Shaker's success in the first round of the FA Cup last week, we return to Gigg Lane to get back down to league matters. Today we welcome one of the oldest teams in the league, who sat in 20th position prior the game, with the Shakers sitting in 14th (but only 2 points separating them.)

Challinor sits this one out following his injury sustained last week, so into the fold comes Bury veteran Matty Barrass. Our last league game resulted in a loss at Cheltenham 2 weeks ago, so getting back on track today is vital. Notts County's last league game resulted in a 3-0 win against Shrewsbury, following a 5-1 defeat away at Rushden. Something tells me their last result could spark off a fine run of form. We shall soon see.

The Magpies had a lively start with a cross into the box in the first minutes followed by some running on the wing by Nuge. After an elbow on Kennedy, Bury were given a free kick on 2 minutes that resulted in a Bury corner moments later. Taken by Flickers, it met the heads of Nuge and Mattis but was cleared.

It was Bury keeping hold of most of the possession in the first five minutes which we've seen a lot of this season. After towering above Porter a bit too much, Pipe gave away a free kick that was then crossed into the box but came to nothing, despite Nuge and Porter both present.

The Magpies won a corner on 8 minutes that was cleared by a strong header from BBM. Nuge was on a run into the box seconds later but was tripped just outside the box by Deeney. He was given a yellow card, and Bury given the free kick. Taken by BBM, it was curling towards the left hand corner but hit the County wall.

Yellow card for the Magpies on 8 minutes - Saul Deeney.

Nuge was taken on by three County players on 12 minutes but he was then tripped. A free kick was given to Bury, about 35 yards out. Taken by Kennedy, it found the head of Swailes but was cleared by the County defence. After a header from the right hand side of the box from Unsie, the ball found Flicker on the edge of the box, who hit it first time and went narrowly wide.

Chris Palmer was played on into the box on 14 minutes but his shot lacked power and went wide. A free kick from Palmer just inside the Bury half on 16 minutes found the hands of Marriot, no probs. Nuge took a shot moments later from 20 yards out but sent it straight into Deeney's hands. Mattis swung a low cross into the box on 18 minutes, and it seemed as if Porter could put the final touch on it for a goal, but he didn't quite make it in time.

County were awarded a free kick 30 yards out moments later, taken by Palmer, but it went wide of the right hand post. The game saw it's first goal on 22 minutes as Nuge and Porter powered into the box, and after some confusion from them and the County backline, Porter shot from around 6 yards, which was then fumbled-ish by Deeney and rolled over the line despite his best efforts to keep it out. Another one for the Porter, even if it doesn't win goal of the season.

Shakers 1 Magpies 0

McFaul played on Richardson straight from the restart and with only the keeper to beat, he hit the bar. The resulting corner found a County head at the far post but headed narrowly wide. Two good chances in as many seconds for the Magpies, and the Shaker's lead could almost have disappeared as soon as they got it.

Gordon was brought down by Woody on 27 minutes but the resulting free kick went out for a goal kick. After a cross on the right hand side of the box on the half hour mark, both Gordon and Marriot challenged for the ball in the area, and it went out for a goal kick in the end.

Bury were awarded a free kick on the far right hand side of the box moments later, which was taken by BBM. He sent it to the far side of the box aiming for Porter, but it went out for a goal kick instead. Was pretty close though. Somehow Unsworth got a cross in from far on the right hand side of the box on 33 minutes, and Porter came from nowhere to power a header only just wide. Lots of "Oooh"s from around the ground.

Nuge was then brought down in the same place as Unsworth's last cross seconds later, to give Bury another free kick, which may as well have been a corner. Curled in by BBM (who else) it was met by Deeney's hands who was then challenged by the Shaker's front line, and the ref gave a free kick because of it.

Moments later on 35 minutes, County had a cross which was then headed away by Swailes for a corner. Flicker then cleared to the far side, but it was then crossed again into the box, missed by Swailes, and Hurst took a point blank header that was expertly saved by Marriot. How he got to that I do not know. The resulting corner came to nothing but a good few minutes of pressure from the Magpies.

After a pass from Porter on 38 minutes, Nuge was away down the right hand side, followed by two defenders. He chose to shoot across the area but it was stopped by the defenders tracking him down the pitch. Probably best to cut inside with that one Nugey.

Palmer was brought down once again 35 yards out on 41 minutes. He took the resulting free kick which met the head of Gordon who sent the ball into Marriot's hands. Bury kept possession well in middle for the final few minutes of the half, and one minute of time is to be added on. Nuge had a chance to be played on again by Mattis but the ball met the wrong end of his foot and he sent it back where it came from. Bless, his grin says it all.

Half Time - Shakers 1 Magpies 0

Straight from the restart, Porter was off on a run into the box, but when he's marked by about 4 players, he doesn't get too far. Dwayne made a chance for himself on 47 minutes and was unlucky to fire just wide. After a long run down the right hand side, Pipe crossed the ball into the box, only to be met by the hands of Marriot.

Bury won a corner on 48 minutes after a long range shot from Flicker took a deflection, but it carried to the far side of the box and came to nothing. After a truly superb ball from BBM on 51 minutes, Porter was left one on one with the keeper but was tripped up, releasing the ball for Nuge on the edge of the area who fired just over. A clever Kennedy cross moments later found the feet of the County back line in a chaotic penalty area. The ball was eventually cleared but it showed the signs of some good Bury pressure.

Nuge took a long range shot on 54 minutes but sent it the wrong side of the post by a long way, which was a shame because Porter was screaming for the ball on the far side. On the hour mark, following a stint of Bury possession, Mattis tried a long range effort that Deeney got down well to save.

By 62 minutes, the County back line seemed to be struggling to keep the Bury lads out of the area, but still were having some good attacks of their own. Flicker tried another shot from far out on 65 minutes but was wide.

Sub for the Magpies on 65 minutes - Matthew Gill on for Tony Scully.

After towering above Porter, Wilson condeded a free kick just inside their half. It resulted in a throw in that was then given to Kennedy to cross into the box. Similar to before, all it needed was a Bury player to tap it in, but Denney got a hand to it to send it out for a throw in on the opposite side.

A slightly controversial sending off for the Magpies as Hurst was sent for an early bath for what looked like retaliation (but don't quote me on that yet!) because one of the County players (looks like McFaul) was lying motionless on the deck. He must have had a serious go to get a straight red in that situation.

Red card for the Magpies on 70 minutes - Glynn Hurst

Sub for the Magpies on 78 minutes - Fahrudin Kuduzovic on for Shane McFaul.

Following McFaul being stretchered off, the game restarted (with a hefty amount of injury time to follow I presume). County had a free kick outside the box on 80 minutes which resulted in a corner moments later. It was knocked out of play by County and a goal kick followed.

Can the Shakers keep their cool against ten men? County seem to have stepped up a gear in terms of pace, even outrunning Porter at times. Bury had a chance to get another on 84 minutes as Nuge cleverly beat the offside trap and cut inside into the box. His shot was on target but the County defence blocked well and cleared.

Marriot got up well to capture a corner ball from County moments later and play resumed. Keep this lead please lads, we need the points. Looks as though the electronic substitution board has packed in because the old plastic number boards are out for the Bury subs.

Double sub for Bury on 88 minutes - Jon Newby on for Nuge, and CKR on for Chris Porter.

As we head towards 90 minutes, 7 minutes of extra time are added on in account of the County injury earlier. Seven minutes - I've never seen that before, let's hope we keep it together.

Bury awarded a free kick on the right hand side of the box in the first minute of extra time, but the set piece didn't work out and Deeney collected. County had a golden chance to grab an equaliser moments later, but Marriot got down well to save and it was then cleared for a corner that was headed away by BBM.

It was County looking the more ambitious side to score in the final moments of the game with the Bury defence making silly mistakes through panic. Thankfully, the ref finally blew for full time, and the Shakers take the three points. Credit to County though who showed a lot more determination in the final stages of the game to get a goal back, despite being down to ten men. I hope McFaul is OK too, following that challenge that left him grounded for those 7 minutes.

Bury will need to sort out their stamina for next week away at Swansea, because some of them seemed to lose their footing and inspiration a little towards the end and that simply won't be enough away at one of the top sides in the league. Getting onto another good run of results would be very nice though, so keep it up lads, we know you can do it.

Full Time - Shakers 1 Magpies 0

Attendance 2938, 395 for County.

Bury FC:  Andy Marriott, Lee Unsworth, Tom Kennedy, Danny Swailes, Matty Barrass, Colin Woodtrhorpe ©, Dwayne Mattis, Dave Flitcroft, Brian Barry-Murphy, David Nugent, Chris Porter

On the Bench:  Colin Kazim-Richards, Paul Scott, Simon Whaley, Jon Newby, Terry Dunfield

Notts County FC:  Saul Deeney, Ian Richardson, David Pipe, Julien Baudet, Gavin Gordon, Glynn Hurst, Tony Scully, Chris Palmer, Paul Bolland ©, Kelvin Wilson, Shane McFaul

On the Bench:  Steve Mildenhall, Matthew Gill, Emmet Friars, Fahrudin Kuduzovic