Despite a hard fought comeback against Hartlepool last Saturday, the Shakers were beaten, so a victory was vital to keep any playoff hopes alive. On 4 minutes, Hereford had the first chance of the game when Steve Guinan crossed the ball into the area for Connell. However, Dave Challinor did well to intervene and put the ball over the crossbar.

Bury had their first chance of the game on 6 minutes when Dave Challinor fired a long throw into the box. The Hereford defence managed to clear, but only as far as Kennedy, who knocked the ball out to the edge of the area for Glynn Hurst. Hurst did very well to fire a shot at goal on the volley, which went just over the crossbar.

On 11 minutes Hereford managed to break away on the counter attack when Simon Travis made a long run down the right wing. He crossed the ball into the area, but it was well cleared by the Bury defence. However, the clearance only went as far as Jennings, who fired a long range shot at goal, which went well wide of the right hand post.

Bury won their first corner of the game on 17 minutes when Marc Pugh's cross was deflected out of play. Kennedy swung the ball into the six yard box for Dave Challinor, who did superbly well to get a header under lots of pressure. However, the header went just over the crossbar.

Bury won yet another corner on 19 minutes on the left hand side. Pugh fired the ball into the area looking for Glynn Hurst, but the ball was cleared away by Richard Rose near the right hand post.

On 23 minutes Bury continued to pressurise Hereford when Marc Pugh did well to fire a cross into the area from the left hand side looking for Glynn Hurst. However, the cross had too much power on it, leaving keeper Wayne Brown with plenty of time to grab the ball.

Bury won a corner on the left hand side on 25 minutes when Mkandawire managed to knock the ball away from Andy Bishop. Kennedy fired the cross into the six yard box looking for Challinor. However, the ball was knocked away from the area by the Hereford defence.

Hereford had the best chance of the game so far on 27 minutes when Simon Travis managed to knock the ball into the centre of play for Guinan, who fired a half shot at goal, which swerved towards the right hand side of the goal, forcing Andy Warrington to make a superb save.

The Shakers finally to the lead on 29 minutes after plenty of pressure when Tom Kennedy fired a corner into the six yard box for Bishop. Bishop's header was blocked on the line, but Ritchie Baker was waiting to slam the ball into the net to give Bury the lead.

Bury 1-0 Hereford (Ritchie Baker 29)

Bury almost extended their lead on 30 minutes when Marc Pugh crossed the ball into the area towards the left hand post. The ball went high over keeper Wayne Brown's head towards Paul Scott. However, Mkandawire was able to knock the ball away from him and away from danger.

On 34 minutes Bury nearly had a spectacular goal when Marc Pugh managed to run into space on the right wing. Pugh fired a spectacular swerving shot at goal, forcing Wayne Brown to move quickly over to his left hand post to make the save.

The Shakers won a free kick on 36 minutes on the left wing after Glynn Hurst was brought down by Mkandawire. Kennedy fired the free kick into the penalty area for Dave Challinor, who fired a high header at goal, forcing Wayne Brown to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Halftime: Bury 1-0 Hereford

Bury had their first chance of the second half on 46 minutes when Dave Challinor fired a cross into the area for Bishop who headed the ball towards goal. However, the ball went high over the crossbar.

The Shakers had a good opportunity on 49 minutes when Ritchie Baker made an excellent run to the edge of the penalty area. Baker tried to knock to ball to the left hand corner of the goal, but it went just inches wide.

Bury extended their lead on 57 minutes when Andy Bishop did well to hold the ball in the area and knock the ball out to Glynn Hurst, who did well to fire the ball past Wayne Brown to put the Shakers two goals up.

Bury 2-0 Hereford (Glynn Hurst 57)

Hereford hit straight back at the Shakers in an attempt to get back into the game. They managed to pull a goal back on 63 minutes when Steve Jennings fired a powerful shot at goal, which took a wicked deflection off Nicky Adams, knocking the ball underneath Warrington and into the net to put Hereford back into the game.

Bury 2-1 Hereford (Nicky Adams O.G 63)

Hereford almost equalised on 69 minutes when Steve Jennings played the ball into the penalty area for Connell, who fired a shot at goal from close range, forcing a superb diving save from Andy Warrington, giving Scott plenty of time to clear the ball up field.

Bury had a good chance to put the game beyond Hereford on 72 minutes when Nicky Adams won the ball in midfield and made a long run to the edge of the area. Adams fired a shot straight at goal, which went just over the crossbar.

On 75 minutes Bury had their best chance of the second half when Nicky Adams knocked the ball to the edge of the area for Bishop. Bishop knocked the ball to Ritchie Baker, who fired a low shot at goal, forcing Brown to make a good save by his left hand post.

Hereford equalised on 78 minutes when Andy Williams controlled the ball in the air on the edge of the area. He controlled the ball and hit it on the volley at goal, which flew into the top right hand corner of the goal to equalise for Hereford.

Bury 2-2 Hereford (Andy Williams 78)

Bury hit right back at Hereford when Tom Kennedy fired a corner into the six yard box for Andy Bishop, but the Hereford defence managed to force the ball away from him and clear of danger.

The Shakers won a corner on the left hand side on 84 minutes when a cross into the area was cleared out of play by the Hereford defence. Kennedy fired the cross into the area for Challinor, who forced a header at goal, which had to be saved quickly by Wayne Brown by his right hand post.

Fulltime: Bury 2-2 Hereford

Attendance: 1,775