Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane
The Shakers had the first chance of the game on 3 minutes when they won a free kick after Elliott Bennett was brought down by Tom Kennedy on the edge of the penalty area. Andy Bishop fired it straight at goal, but the ball went just over the crossbar. On 13 minutes Bury came close again when Andy Bishop broke into a one-on-one with keeper Tommy Lee. Bishop fired a good low drive at goal, but the Dale keeper did well to parry the ball away.
On 20 minutes the game exploded with drama when Efe Sodje's shot on the edge of the six yard box was deflected into the path Glynn Hurst, whose shot was well parried by keeper Tommy Lee. Hurst tried to beat the keeper again with a good rebound strike but the keeper was equal to it again. However, the Dale managed to win possession and set off on a counter attack which left Gary Jones with a chance to score on the edge of the penalty area. Jim Provett did well to save his effort, and manage to scramble to deflect Chris Dagnall's rebound attempt.
Rochdale was reduced to ten men on the half hour mark when Elliott Bennett was brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Nathan Stanton. The referee saw that Bennett was the last attacking player; therefore the referee had no choice but to give the centre back a straight red. The away side though did have a good chance with five minutes left in the half when they won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Tom Kennedy stepped up and fired the ball straight at goal, but the ball curled just wide of the left hand post.
Halftime: Bury 0-0 Rochdale
On 52 minutes Rochdale had the first chance of the half when Rene Howe fired a good shot at goal from close range, which was well blocked by defender Efe Sodje. The Shakers took the lead on 56 minutes when a quick throw in left Nicky Adams with plenty of space on the edge of the six yard box to fire the ball straight past the keeper into the top of the goal to give Bury the lead.
Goal Bury 1-0 Rochdale (Nicky Adams 52)
The Dale responded instantly and nearly got the equaliser when Chris Dagnall went for goal from close range, which forced a superb reaction save from Jim Provett. Bury were back on the attack on 62 minutes when Elliott Bennett managed to shake his marker and fire a good shot at goal from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went just over the crossbar.
On 72 minutes Bury could have extended their lead when Elliott Bennett managed to shake off his marker just inside the penalty area and fire a shot at goal from a difficult angle, which forced a save from Tommy Lee in the Rochdale goal. The sides were levelled with ten minutes left when Ben Futcher was sent off for a second bookable offence after an incident in a crowded penalty area.
With one minute of normal time left Rochdale were rewarded a penalty after the referee deemed Scott's challenge on Gary Jones a foul. Le Fondre stepped up and fired the ball past Jim Provett despite his best efforts.
Goal Bury 1-1 Rochdale (Le Fondre PEN 89)
The Dale nearly got the winner late on when a collision between Provett and Sodje left an empty net for Rene Howe, but the referee blew his whistle for a Bury free kick. Bury came close on a few occasions towards the end of the game, but they were unable to take the lead.
Fulltime: Bury 1-1 Rochdale
Bury: Jim Provett, Paul Scott, Ben Futcher, Steve Haslam, Richie Baker, Glynn Hurst (Stephens 79), Andy Bishop, David Buchanan, Nicky Adams, Elliott Bennett, Efe Sodje
Subs: Dale Stephens, Domaine Rouse, Adam Rooney, Ricky Anane, Cameron Belford
Rochdale: Tommy Lee, Simon Ramsden, Tom Kennedy, Nathan Stanton, Rory McArdle, Adam Rundle (Buckley 66), Gary Jones (c), David Perkins, Chris Dagnall (Le Fondre 63), Rene Howe, Kallum Higginbotham (D'Laryea 32)
Subs: Will Buckley, Nathan D'Laryea, Adam Le Fondre, Ben Muirhead, Lewis Montrose
Attendance: 6,271 (2783 Away)
