It was the home side that started the game the brighter side at a very sunny Edgar Street with a series of attacking throws down the flank, but the final throw which fell to Gary Hooper wasn't the best and the Bulls striker ran the ball out of play. Bury's first attempt to take the ball forward came on four minutes when Elliott Bennett took the ball down the flank before cutting inside a defender and spraying the ball to Barry-Murphy, his precision driven shot on goal though was blocked by a sea of legs on the edge of the Bulls penalty area.
More pressure from the Shakers on six minutes finished with Trent McClenahan forcing the ball away from danger, though moments later a Ben Futcher clearance cannoned of Steve Haslam and fell to Theo Robinson on the edge of the box, but his snap shot flew across the face of the six yard area to safety.
Weatherist's (is there such a word) should flock to Edgar Street as the sun disappears and it starts to snow, rain, hail and blow a gale - all within four minutes - though the action did remain on the pitch with Clint Easton collecting two good chances for thehome side. His first, a deep free kick, saw the Bury defence push out leaving Darren Randolph an easy catch as the ball fell into the area and his second a deep cross that almost found Gary Hooper on the penalty spot, but some quick thinking from Darren Randolph saw the Bury keeper collect the ball.
Hereford produced their best effort of the game so far on 17 minutes when Theo Robinson, Clint Easton and Ben Smith saw their passing movement break down on the edge of the Bury box, allowing Buchanan to smash the ball away to safety. Moments later a Bury free kick was whipped towards the Hereford box, but the wind assisted delivery brought an easy clearance from the home defence as heavy snow hits Edgar Street.
The Weather seemed to be the main talking point from this game with just about every condition possible being thrown at the two teams. Some slick passing play inside the 18 yard box from the Bulls almost sees both Hooper and Easton have the chance to shoot, but Bury get numbers back and the ball breaks to Randolph. Moments later and a superb covering tackle denies Robinson a chance to shoot, or square the ball to Hooper, and Bury finally clear.
An Efe Sodje foul on Theo Robinson on the half hour saw the home side's free kick whipped into the box, but Sodje's header got the ball half clear and allowed Ben Smith to flash a curling cross into the box that few harmlessly out of play as summer comes back to Edgar Street with bright sunshine flashing across the pitch.
A Trent McClenahan free kick on 27 minutes to the edge of the 18 yard box was the Bury defence easily push the ball away to safety but a quick break from Elliott Bennett had the home defence reeling.Bennett's delivery to Andy Bishop saw the Shakers leading scorer flash a right footed shot across the face of the six yard box and out of play.
Bury could have taken the lead on 40 minutes when Andy Bishop collected the ball some 40 yards out. He charged forward and just as he pulled the trigger, a challenge from John McCombe saw the ball roll safety through to Wayne Brown.
An Efe Sodje handball on 38 minutes presented Hereford with a free kick halfway inside the Bury half, thankfully though, the resulting free kick from Johnson flew harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.Moments later, a good spell from the home side was broken down on the edge of the Bury box by Elliott Bennett, it was Bennett who broke with the ball and charged at the home defence but a challenge by Michael Rose saw Hereford do exactly the same as Bury and they broke quickly though this time it was Futcher that got the ball clear
Just before half time, Steve Haslam delivered a good ball into the Hereford box though it was Hereford heads that got their first to head clear.The first half finished with a Theo Robinson cross into the Bury box being safely caught by Darren Randolph.
Half Time: Hereford United 0 Bury 0
Bury got the second half underway, playing towards the travelling fans that had made the trip despite the problems on the M6, and it was Andy Bishop that had the first attempt in the second period but his effort flies wide of the target and out for a Hereford goal kick.
A Trent McClenahan free kick just inside the Hereford half of the field on 49 minutes saw the sent into the Bury box, but strong defending quickly had the ball clear for a Bury break.From that break, Bishop applied a little pressure onto Michael Rose though the defender did get the ball clear, it fell to Nicky Adams and his left footed shot on goal didn't really bother keeper Wayne Brown as he collected the ball.
Hereford had half a chance on 52 minutes when Simon Johnson fed the ball to Gary Hooper as he burst into the Bury box, but the Hereford striker quickly lost possession and Darren Randolph smacked the ball up the field.From the clearance, Bury got forward with Nicky Adams down the left hand side, his cross into the box was turned away for a Bury corner, though this fell to nothing when the referee spotted a foul in the box.
A Brian Barry-Murphy 57th minute free kick was delivered into the Hereford box and quickly cleared, though the ball came straight back into the area where Efe Sodje attempted the spectacular with an overhead kick that flew over the bar.
The game suddenly spring's into life, firstly Brown makes a fine save low to his right to deny Bishop, The Bulls then broke out of defence with Hooper sending a left footed shot come cross, he volleys the rebound towards goal, forcing Randolph into a good save. Hooper then attempted to pull the ball back into the danger zone but the Shakers defence head clear.
Bury survived a 75th minute onslaught when Theo Robinson raced onto a good through ball before seeing a fine left footed shot turned behind by keeper Darren Randolph for a corner. The Bulls then see the resulting corner headed off the line from a Robinson header, David Buchanan performing the heroics on the line.
The onslaught continued into 78 minutes when Toumani Diagouraga broke into the area before smashing a right footed shot towards goal, thankfully the shot was tipped away by another stunning save from Randolph.
Gary Hooper broke on 80 minutes and although the hereford player did get a good shot off on target, he found keeper Darren Randolph again in excellent form as the onloan shot stopper again denied the home side with another good save. Bury got the ball up the park where ANdy Bishop foired a low drive at goal that didnt really test Wayne Brown.
Moments later though, Nicky Adams did have Brown worried with a good right footed shot from 20 yards that just flew over the cross bar. Another Hereford effort on 83 minutes brought another goal line clearance as Bishop headed away from a Gleeson cross to get the ball away to safety.
Bury could have snatched all three points with just five minutes left on the clock when Andy Bishop shot on goal from 20 yards, but again, the effort flew just wide of the mark. Gary Hooper saw two balls lofted into the box and quickly returned by a determinded Bury defence as the clock ticked down towards the 90 minutes. Bishop almost grabs a late win for Bury sending the ball narrowly wide with almost the last kick of the game.
Final Score: Hereford United 0 Bury 0
Bury: Darren Randolph, Paul Scott, Ben Futcher, Steve Haslam, Glynn Hurst, Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, David Buchanan, Nicky Adams, Elliott Bennett (Baker 82), Efe Sodje.
Subs: Jim Provett, Richie Baker, Andy Parrish, Domaine Rouse, Adam Rooney.
Hereford United: Wayne Brown, Trent McClenahan, John McCombe, Dean Beckwith, Richard Rose, Simon Johnson, Den Smith, Toumani Diagouraga, Clint Easton, Theo Robinson, Gary Hooper.
Subs: Kris Taylor, Stephen Gleeson, Steven Guinan, Ryan Esson, Lee Collins.
Gate: 3,420 (125 from Bury)
