Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane

The Shakers were putting a fair amount of pressure on the away side during the first few moments, and almost took a bizarre lead when Nicky Adams' corner swerved in the air towards goal, which forced a hurried clearance by keeper Wayne Brown. Hereford had an early effort themselves however, when Theo Robinson managed to force his way into the penalty area and attempted a shot at goal, but Andy Parrish and Jim Provett combined to deflect the shot away from goal.

After 10 minutes Hereford were on the attack again when a cross from the right hand side went straight to the head of an unmarked Theo Robinson, whose header went over the head of Jim Provett, but Steve Haslam was able to slide in and clear the ball off the line.

After a scrappy spell of football, Bury had a good chance to take the lead on 33 minutes when Nicky Adams crossed the ball into the six yard box for Ben Futcher, whose header was well saved by Hereford keeper Wayne Brown diving to his left hand post. On 37 minutes Nicky Adams made a surging run into the penalty area from the right wing, and attempted a good effort at goal, but defender Ben Smith managed to put on enough pressure to force the ball wide of goal.

On the verge of halftime, Bury nearly took the lead when Nicky Adams crossed the ball to the edge of the six yard box for Andy Bishop, whose header went just inches wide of the right hand post.

Halftime: Bury 0-0 Hereford

The Shakers started the second half positively, and had their best chance of the game so far on 50 minutes when Andy Parrish did well to find Nicky Adams with space on the edge of the area. Adams crossed the ball into the area to an unmarked Andy Bishop, whose header was well saved by Wayne Brown. There was a hint of controversy on 57 minutes when Glynn Hurst went flying forward one-on-one with the keeper when he was brought down by a Hereford defender. Bury appealed to the referee for a free kick, but he waved play on, which was met by an angry reaction by Chris Casper on the touchline.

Bury had a great chance to take the lead again on 65 minutes when Andy Parrish did superbly well to find space on the wing to cross the ball into the six yard box. Nicky Adams fired a close range header at goal, which was well saved again by Wayne Brown. The home side were on the attack again with ten minutes to go when Nicky Adams fired a low cross into the penalty area for Paul Scott, whose powerful shot went just wide of the right hand post.

Hereford took an undeserved lead on 90 minutes when Theo Robinson fired a long range effort at goal, which flew into the top corner of the goal.

Goal Bury 0-1 Hereford (Theo Robinson 90)

The Shakers nearly scored the equaliser at the end of extra time when Andy Bishop attempted an overhead kick, which went just over the crossbar.

Bury: Jim Provett, Paul Scott, Colin Woodthorpe (Mangan 90), Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan, Steve Haslam, Glynn Hurst, Andy Bishop, David Buchanan, Andy Parrish, Nicky Adams

Subs: Richie Baker, Brian Barry-Murphy, Liam Hughes, Shaun McAllister, Andy Mangan

Hereford: Wayne Brown, Trent McClenahan, John McCombe, Ben Smith, Steve Guinan (Benjamin 72), Sam Gwynne (Webb 86) Lee Collins, Toumani Diagouraga, Theo Robinson, Simon Johnson (Easton 72), Dean Beckwith

Subs: Mike Ingham, Kris Taylor, Trevor Benjamin, Luke Webb, Clint Easton

Attendance: 2,099 (206 away)

Website Man of the Match - Andy Bishop: Played an excellent game, contributing to the attack and was unlucky not to come away with another hat-trick.