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Bristol Rovers vs Bury
 2 - 2 
Date: 
10/08/2004
Venue: 
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 
8,705
Referee: 
J Singh

Bury started their first away fixture of the season in buoyant mood after a pulsating victory against Yeovil at the weekend.Manager Graham Barrow made just one change to the starting line up with Jones coming off the bench to replace Newby.

The game kicked off in glorious sunshine with Bury sporting their new look bright yellow away strip.

Within 15 seconds of the kick off Nugent was continuing his heroics of the weekend with a shot from the edge of the area that was parried clear by Miller.

Rovers response was swift and a pass inside Kennedy saw Gibb release a rasping shot from the right edge of the area but Garner was able to watch, albeit anxiously, as the ball sailed over the bar.

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A superb Bury move involving five players saw Nugent break into the box and earn a corner.Barry-Murphy delivered yet another superb in-swinging cross and Dwaine Mattis was on hand to slide the ball off his forehead and into the back of the net from the edge of the six yard area.

Bristol Rovers 0 Bury 1

A minute later and Rovers were fortunate to escape when a Challinor throw was launched into the box and was fumbled by keeper Miller.Fortunately for the Pirates the ball was hacked clear.

Another Challinor throw created a chance for the Shakers as once again he launched it into the box, the ball was headed clear to Barrass on the edge of the area, and although it sat up nicely for the defender he was unable to prevent his 20 yard shot rising high over the bar.

Rovers hit man Agogo displayed all his considerable talents when he unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the area, after a swift Rovers counter attacking move, which was superbly saved by Garner as it seemed destined for the bottom right corner of his goal.

It was Garner's heroics once again that kept the Shakers in the lead when he launched himself across his goal and clawed a shot from Forrester to safety just when it seemed to be curling into the angle between post and crossbar.

Both teams were beginning to unlock the opposition defences and both Agogo and Nugent almost created opportunities to score.

On 33 minutes a turn and shot in the area by Jones was well held by Miller.

Nugent turned provider just minutes later when he cleverly passed the ball to Mattis who almost placed his shot beyond the outstretched arm of Miller.

A despairing tackle from Woodthorpe kept the Shakers in the game as Agogo cleverly released his partner Forrester into the area.

A Trollope free kick from 25 yards signalled disaster for the Shakers as the referee gave a penalty for what he saw as a foul on Agogo.The ball was swung into the penalty area and the Rovers striker collapsed in the middle of a group of Bury defenders.When the whistle was blown I would have been extremely surprised if anyone in the ground thought that a penalty was about to be awarded but it was and Forrester coolly stepped up, sent Garner the wrong way, and rolled the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal.The referee indicated after the incident that the spot kick had been awarded for pulling.

Bristol Rovers 1 Bury 1

To add insult to injury referee Singh then cautioned Nugent after keeper Miller blasted a free kick at him.To further compound the situation he then marched the ball the irritatingly obligatory 10 yards up the field.

The scores remained level until the break and although Bury were troubled at times by the fast Rovers breaks they were coping well and until the highly debateable penalty decision had successfully shackled the skill and pace of Agogo.

Half Time Score: Bristol Rovers 1 Bury 1

No changes were made to either side during the interval.

Route one football at its finest and most effective within sixty seconds of the restart.A Jones header in the Rovers penalty area was swiftly collected by Miller and launched up the field to Forrester who outstripped the Bury defenders and powered a shot in on goal that was superbly saved by Garner.

From the resulting corner by Campbell Anderson rose high to plant a header past Garner and Rovers were in the lead.

Bristol Rovers 2 Bury 1

Within a minute Rovers should have put the game beyond the Shakers when Trollope broke swiftly into the area and was brought down by Colin Woodthorpe.The Shakers defender was booked by referee Singh and once again Forrester stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the goal.This time however, Garner was quickly down to his right and he kept the ball out and it was scrambled clear.

On 55 minutes Savage replaced Trollope and Whaley replaced Matty Barrass and just minutes later Porter replaced Jones.

The Agogo show took anew turn, literally, as he completely wrong footed Woodthorpe on the left side of the area.The experienced defender was being given an extremely hard time and escaped on this occasion as a superb near post save by Garner turned the ball behind for a corner.

Just minutes later and the inevitable happened as a Nugent shot was blocked and Rovers broke swiftly and incisively with the ball ending up at the feet of chief tormentor Agogo.He accelerated through the Bury rearguard and was about to break clear on goal when he was hauled back by Woodthorpe.The referee had no alternative other then to dismiss him from the field of play.

Unbelievably the Shakers then netted what will be a contender for goal of the season when Porter controlled the ball and rolled it to Barry-Murphy who hammered an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the top left corner of the goal.Referee Singh then booked Barry-Murphy for over celebrating what was probably the goal of his career so far.

Bristol Rovers 2 Bury 2

Simon Whaley accelerated down the right flank and his cross to the near post was almost converted by Porter.

A period of end-to-end football saw half chances galore created but not converted but the Shakers were not being overpowered despite being reduced to 10 men.

Rovers made their final substitutions as Campbell and Forrester were replaced by Williams and Walker and Newby replaced Nugent after 87 minutes.

This breathtaking game drew to a close after an additional four minutes that Bury could well have done without.Rovers fluent attacking capabilities were nullified by the Shakers disciplined, but sometimes desperate, defending and Colin Woodthorpe is probably still trying to get the twists out of his blood after a dazzling 20 minute period of sublime individual skill by the Rovers forward.

Final Score: Bristol Rovers 2 Bury 2

Bury

Garner, Barrass, Kennedy, Unsworth, Challinor Ã'©, Woodthorpe, Mattis, Flitcroft, Barry-Murphy, Nugent, Jones

Subs
Porter, Newby, Dunfield, Whaley, Duxbury

Bristol Rovers
Miller Ã'©, Gibb, Ryan, Anderson, Edwards, Elliott, Trollope, Hunt, Campbell, Forrester, Agogo

Subs
Hinton, Thorpe, Savage, Williams, Walker

Referee: J Singh
Assistants: D Hine and M West
4th Official: B Malone

Bet365

Ten man Bury held on to snatch a share of the spoils with a stunning Barry-Murphy equaliser
 Match Information
 
  Bristol Rovers Bury
Goals : 2 2
Possession : 54% 46%
Shots On Target : 5 5
Shots Off Target : 1 2
Corners : 7 2
Fouls : 13 13
Most Fouls : Agogo (5) Woodthorpe (3)
Yellow Cards : 0 3
 
Red Cards :
Woodthorpe 65
 
Scorers :
Forrester 43 (pen)
Anderson 50
Mattis 7
Barry-Murphy 68
 
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