Bury 2 Macclesfield Town 1

Bury were looking to recover from their shocking defeat at the hands of League One outfit Stockport County on Tuesday night, and what better way than a challenge in the form of high-flying Macclesfield Town. Brian Horton's men sat in 6th place before this game, and with two pending suspensions for the Shakers, it was going to be a long day at the office.

Young Chris Porter and Paul Scott both got their marching orders on Tuesday night, and replacing them in the starting line up were Sir Jon of Newby and Colin Woodthorpe. Also, bright spark Colin Kazim-Richards started on the bench with his new squad number of 24. On the bench for Macc was Mike Sheron, who played one whole game for the Shakers in 1991.

Today was the day Mr Challinor turned 29 (allegedly) and we were hoping that a win would be a good present for himââ,¬Â¦and us. The fans team won 8-1 in the morning, and a repeat performance would be smashing.

Paul Scott and Chris Porter take their seats in front of us, and after a group hug on the pitch, the game was underway, with Premiership referee, Mr G Laws. Bury shooting towards the Cemmy End, with the Macc (in their "distinctive" orange kit) shooting towards their fans.

Bury started the game well with a corner on 1 minute, and a Swailes header forced keeper Fettis into a good save. Seconds later, David Nugent launched the ball down to Jon Newby but the attack came to nothing. A promising start though, always good to see. Tipton showed his presence with a handball on 4 minutes.

Another corner followed on 5 minutes, taken by the Flicker, but found no Shaker's heads. A surging Nugent run resulted in another corner soon after, but Birthday Boy Challinor was called up for climbing over the Silkmen's defence. Seconds later, a Macclesfield attack resulted in an easy header for Matthew Tipton to put them ahead on 9 minutes. He just loves scoring at Gigg, makes a habit of it.

After the restart, Newby fell in the area, but no penalty given. A Bury cross found the head of Dwayne Mattis but headed it in the wrong direction. Another chance for the Macc on 12 minutes, but yet another expert save from Garner kept the score at one nil. A Newby cross on 13 minutes was met by nobody and surely a chance wasted.

A Challinor long-throw into the box on 15 minutes was cleared easily by the Macc defense, but this was showing no "heads-down" approach and Bury were still in the game. A deep cross from Nugent resulted in a goal kick, but a Dwayne Mattis shot seconds later was saved well. The resulting corner was fired over the goal by the Macc, and another Flicker corner followed, but again saved easily by Fettis.

A cross from Newby found the feet of Mattis on 17 minutes but he scuffed it and was eventually cleared. Yet another Bury corner on 18 minutes, taken by BBM, curled in but was met by the punch of Fettis, but the flag was up and Fettis cleared. A mistake from Briscoe could have sparked another Bury attack but resulted in a Macc throw.

John Miles was, excuse the pun, miles away with a strike from 20 yards, but Glyn had it covered anyway. The Macc faithful seeing it as a chance to extend the lead. However, on 22 minutes, Glyn cleared and played on Sir Jon of Newby, who expertly rounded the keeper and slotted it into the back of the net for his first goal from returning to the Gigg Lane fold. Super Jonny Newby indeed and didn't he look chuffed.

Tipton again, showing his presence with another handball on 24 minutes. Not being too biased, but the quality of football definitely coming from the Shakers, but like at Oxford, the amount of chances only matter if you put them away.

Glyn cleared a Macc attack on 28 minutes, into the path of Tipton, who fired over the bar. Appeals for handball in the box from the Bury faithful on 29 minutes, but the ball hit the chest according to the ref. A Flicker cross on the half hour was a little ambitious and resulted in a Macc throw in.

Tipton fouled BBM on 31 minutes which resulted in a free kick just inside the Bury half, which was re-taked as Tipton got in the way, but not with his hands this time. A Bury fan in front making his thoughts known about the Macc, he thinks they're "rubbish". Surely they aren't in 6th position for nothing though.

Nugent was played on on 33 minutes but the ball was going a little too quickly and didn't control it too well. Another chance for the Nuge to extend that 7 goal tally. A free kick from BBm found the hands of Fettis as was cleared. Seconds later, the Nuge was controversially ruled offside, much to the disgust of the Cemmy end (and me).

On 36 minutes a cross from Miles found the hands of Garner, but showing the Macc still quick on the break. A free kick to Bury on 37 minutes as BBM was upended, taken by BBM himself, which forced a good save from Fettis at the far post. A strong tackle from Unsie on 39 minutes took Whittaker by surprise, but at least he knows he's there.

Another Macc chance from Parkin soon after was again saved by the hands of Garner, but he surely should have put that one in. On 41 minutes a "shot" from Flicker from way out nearly resulted in a Macc throw in. I'm sure it won't be long till one goes in.

BBM was alleged to have upended Bailey and a free kick given to Macc at the edge of the area on 43 minutes. It found the head of Barras but Glyn collected it and launched it forward. Glyn having to keep his eyes well open this afternoon, Macc often being very speedy on the attack.

2 minutes of added time were indicated by the 4th official, and a Newby cross found a string of white shirts but they all seemed shy of having a shot, resulting in a chorus of frustration from the Bury crowd.

Second half underway, and no subs made. Straight away, a cross from Mattis came to nothing but another promising start. Moments later, Nuge had another chance to extend his goal tally but scuffed the ground instead of hitting the ball. A Macc defender also helped to clear it away. A shot from Kennedy on 47 minutes was cleared off the line by Briscoe, but there was enough power behind it to give the lad his first goal, even more gutting to see that he'd actually beaten the keeper as well.

A Newby cross on 49 minutes hit the side netting, but there should have been a few more Shakers players in the box to help him out. A low Nuge cross followed but was cleared easily. A free kick to Macc on 50 minutes taken by Harsley was easily cleared, but resulted in a long ball forward which was gathered by Fettis.

A Challinor free kick on 52 minutes resulted in a Kennedy cross which narrowly missed the head of Nuge. Yet another chance to take the lead. Flicker and Widdrington were given a speaking to on 54 minutes, but no bookings as yet. A Macc free kick just outside the box was cleared by Challinor, anywhere will do. A shot by Harsley on 55 minutes was fired straight into Glyn's arms, despite pressure from Parkin.

Newby did his best "unimpressed" face on 56 minutes as a free kick was given against him, but the linesman was having none of it. Swailes attempted to play on the front two on 57 minutes, but there was too much pace on it, and cleared by Fettis. Another free kick to Macc just inside the Bury half came to nothing and Bury regained possession.

BBM was brought down on 58 minutes by Barras which resulted in the first yellow card of the afternoon. The Murph took the free kick himself and curled it into the box and Danny Swailes connected and headed just inches over the bar. Another good chance from the Shakers.

Tipton fired the ball over the Shakers net on the hour mark and into the back of the Cemmy end, and ironic cheers followed. Danny Swailes brought down Miles on the edge of the box on 62 minutes, and Swailes received a yellow card. Tipton stood over it, and fired it straight into the wall. The resulting cross from Bailey was too far and a Bury goal kick followed.

Sub for Macc - Graham Potter replacing Widdrington on 63 minutes.

After some head tennis in the box moments later, another Bury attack was wasted as it was cleared for a Bury throw. Swailes rounded Tipton on 65 minutes and fired the ball long to Newby who was dragged back on the wing, and a free kick was given. BBM crossed it in, but the offside flag was up against Nuge. Too quick for his own good sometimes.

A Tipton cross on 68 minutes resulted in a shot from Miles which was saved by Garner despite the sun now being in his eyes. A strong 30 yard shot from Miles was saved by Garner, but the offside flag was up against Whittaker.

Sub for Bury on 70 minutes - Flicker off (to a chorus of boos from the Macc crowd) and Simon Whaley on.

A low Newby cross on 72 minutes met the feet of none other than David Nugent who shot it into the bottom corner of the goal to make it 2-1, and 1 more to the tally for the Nuge. The defence was nowhere to be seen, and the scouse partnership of Newbs and Nuge was constantly taking shape.

A cross from Harsley on 75 minutes into the area resulted in the flag going up against Parkin on the far side. Macc obviously wanting to get back into the game.

Sub for Macc on 76 - Mike Welch off, and Mike Sheron coming on.

A short corner for Macc on 77 was cleared by a diving header from Challinor.

Sub for Bury on 77 minutes - Jon Newby off to a standing ovation, and Colin Kazim-Richards coming on, with very fancy golden boots on.

A cross from Whaley on 79 minutes found the hands of Fettis, and Bury were still playing the better football and deserving the 2-1 lead. A corner from Whaley on 80 minutes was cleared by Macc, and on the repeat, the ball cannoned off the Macc defence for a corner on the other side. BBM took it, but it was too long and Challinor couldn't quite keep the ball in play on the far side.

A good cross from Macc on 82 minutes resulted in a shot from Parkin, but Garner saved once again. Barrow and Kelham were now both stood up and pointing around a bit. I hope the players knew what they were on about. Good skill from golden booted Colin KR on 84 minutes but he couldn't get past Barras. Barras ended up on the deck and Colin KR and Nuge swapped places.

A cross from Colin KR on 85 minutes rebounded off Fettis for a corner.

Sub for Macc - Barras replaced by Matthew Carragher.

Colin KR was given a yellow card to match his boots on 87 minutes for kicking the ball away in protest, silly boy. Barras arrives at the dugout, aided by 2 team-mates, with a bit of a limp coming on. A long range drive from Whittaker was saved by Garner, with the sun STILL in his eyes, what a champ.

4 minutes extra time was indicated, as Macc started an attack which was expertly cleared by Swailes. Nervous times indeed. A Nuge shot a minute in sailed over the bar, but the thought was there.

Sub for Bury - The Nuge coming off, Terry Dunfield bouncing on.

A Macc cross found the head of Parkin but he sent it miles wide of the post, to another round of ironic cheers from the Cemmy end. Colin KR was ready and willing to attack with not much time left, the problem being he was about a mile offside.

Bury: Glyn Garner, Lee Unsworth, Tom Kennedy, Danny Swailes, Dave Challinor Ãf'Ã,©, Colin Woodthorpe, Dave Flitcroft, Dwayne Mattis, Brian Barry-Murphy, Dave Nugent, Jon Newby

On the Bench: Simon Whaley, Terry Dunfield, Matty Barrass, Colin Kazim-Richards, Greg Smith

Macclesfield Town: Alan Fettis, Mark Bailey, Tony Barras, Paul Harsley, Jon Parkin, Matthew Tipton, John Miles, Tommy Widdrington, Danny Whittaker, Michael Welch, Michael Briscoe

On the Bench: Steve Wilson, Graham Potter, Matthew Carragher, Mike Sheron, Jassim Fayadh