Following hot on the heels of the previous weekends dramatic second half collapse against Grimsby Bury welcomed
Bright sunshine once again bathed the ground and the Shakers kicked off towards the sparsely populated Cemetery End.
Paul Scott the Shakers new signing replaced Barass and Porter and Nugent were the starting strike force.
The initial 10 minute period was very much a case of "nearly but not quite" as Bury almost broke away, almost played the killer pass, and almost got on the end of dangerous crosses. Instrumental in most of the positive aspects of their play were Porter and Nugent who were constantly looking to hit
On 19 minutes Dwaine Mattis was booked by referee Woolmer after he hauled down Ellison who had tricked his way past the Shakers midfielder wide on the right. The resulting McIntyre free kick was launched into the box and the defensive clearance fell kindly for Hessey but his shot from 15 yards was smartly saved by Garner.
Disaster struck just two minutes later when captain Challinor committed defensive suicide with a horrendous back pass. Rapley could scarcely believe his luck when the ball arrived at his feet in the area, his shot broke to Branch who gleefully smashed the ball home.
Bury 0
The Shakers refused to sacrifice their superb approach play and a Mattis flick header and a Porter shot over the bar emphasised their continued attacking intent.
On 27 minutes a fabulous pass from Kennedy allowed Challinor to get to the bye line and deliver a superb far post cross that was headed just over the bar by Mattis.
Barry-Murphy decided to join in the fun and his blistering shot from 25 yards climbed just too high to trouble keeper Brown.
The Shakers continued to apply intense pressure but always looked to be susceptible to a counter attack from
A rasping 25 yard drive from Flitcroft after some superb approach play by the Shakers had Brown scrambling to his right.
A fast inswinging cross from Kennedy was superbly headed goalwards by Challinor but Brown was equal to the challenge and gratefully grasped the ball in the top right corner of the goal.
The half drew to a close with Flitcroft having his name entered into the referee's notebook and the Shakers wondering how they were a goal behind having played some superb football in the opening period.
Half Time Score: Bury 0
The Shakers took to the field well before their counterparts from
Nugent had the first shot of the second half when he acrobatically shot on the turn but his effort cleared the bar.
On 51 minutes Scott was the next Shaker to find his way into referee Woolmer's notebook after he challenged strongly, but fairly, for the ball on the half way line.
Bury stepped up the pressure and Nugent in particular was constantly creating havoc in the
A Kennedy cross was controlled by Unsworth in the area. He rolled the ball to Nugent who shielded the ball and exquisitely created the shooting opportunity for Dwaine Mattis but his sidefooted shot lacked the necessary power and direction and was easily saved.
On 58 minutes Drummond was challenged in the Bury area by Challinor. The referees whistle sounded and all around were hoping that Garner could make it four consecutive penalty saves but their relief was evident when the official decided that Drummond had in fact dived over the challenge and was subsequently cautioned.
61 minutes into the game and the Shakers received their deserved reward when a pass from Unsworth released Porter in the area. He controlled the ball and expertly despatched the ball beneath the dive of Brown in the
Bury 1
Bury nearly threw it away again when Scott placed a back pass at the feet of Branch who was pushed wide of the goal by a desperate Garner. Fortunately Garner's efforts had made the angle an impossible one for the
A Kennedy free kick into the area just eluded both Nugent and Porter when the merest of deflections would have seen the Shakers take a deserved lead.
A cushioned header by Barry-Murphy fell to Porter who blasted a shot in at goal that was spectacularly saved by keeper Brown who dived sharply to his right to deflect the ball to safety.
Just a minute later and Unsworth was flattened by keeper Brown at the far post as he almost poked the ball into the back of the goal when a cross fell to him in the six yard area. Unsworth needed treatment from the physiotherapist and was immediately replaced by Whaley.
Ray Matthias made changes to his own line up as Belle replaced Rapley.
Although they remained the dominant force in this game the Shakers lost a little of their momentum as
Whaley delivered a wicked near post cross that was steered just wide of the post, under pressure, by Mattis.
Another cross by Challinor was just too high and a shade behind Porter who could only redirect the ball over the bar.
The Shakers worst nightmares almost came to fruition when Belle cynically clattered Garner who had control of the ball long before the arrival of the
Navarro then replaced Carden and within minutes Branch was in the Shakers area tussling for the ball with Scott. The
Disaster struck on 89 minutes when yet another terrible Shakers back pass, this time by Scott, left Branch clear of the Shakers rearguard and he charged towards Garner in the Bury goal. Woodthorpe tried desperately to make up the ground but his despairing tackle brought down Branch just outside the area and left the referee with little option other than to dismiss him from the field to reduce the Shakers to ten men once again. The resulting free kick was blocked and desperately cleared.
In the closing stages of the game a mass fight broke out on the field as tempers flared and both Nugent and Ellison were booked.
The Shakers will be disappointed not to have won this encounter and the impending suspension of Woodthorpe will once again stretch their paper thin resources. Although only a point was gained they will have been pleased to see the fight and determination that was displayed by Bury and with a little more luck and composure in front of goal it could so easily have been all three.
Final Score: Bury 1
Bury
Garner, Unsworth, Kennedy, Scott, Challinor, Woodthorpe, Mattis, Flitcroft, Barry-Murphy, Nugent, Porter
Subs
Newby, Whaley, Dunfield, Duxbury, Smith
Brown,
Subs
Mackenzie, Carden, Davies, Belle, Edmondson
Referee: KA Woolmer
Assistants: M Matadar and CL Reeves
Fourth Official: KJ Mattocks
