Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane

The Shakers named two changes to the side that defeated Stockport last Saturday. Andy Mangan and Ben Futcher were dropped from the bench as Andy Parrish and Simon Yeo took their places.

The game took a disastrous start for The Shakers when they conceded a penalty after just 3 minutes when Colin Woodthorpe caught Ricky Ravenhill in the penalty area, which the referee deemed a penalty. Guy N'Dungu N'Sungu stepped up for the away side and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to give Darlington the lead.

Goal Bury 0-1 Darlington (Guy N'Dungu N'Sungu 4)

Darlington nearly extended their lead just two minutes later when a deep ball into the Bury half set up Kevin Gall, whose long range effort was easily saved by Darren Randolph. On 12 minutes Bury were on the attack when Brian Barry-Murphy fired a free kick straight at goal from the edge of the penalty area, which forced a superb save from David Stockdale who was able to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Bury were close to the equalizer on 19 minutes when Adam Rooney flicked the ball on towards goal, which forced a save from David Stockdale. On 27 minutes The Shakers had their best chance of the game when Nicky Adams made a surging run down the left wing before playing the ball into the six yard box for Andy Bishop whose close range effort smashed against the left hand post.

On 35 minutes the away side had a good chance when Guy N'Dungu N'Sungu fired a good header at goal from the edge of the six yard box, which forced a good save from Darren Randolph. On the verge of halftime, Bury nearly got the equalizer when Nicky Adams went for goal from the edge of the penalty area, which was equaled to by David Stockdale in the Darlington goal.

Halftime: Bury 0-1 Darlington

Just 4 minutes into the second half Darlington had two chances to extend their lead when Kevin Gall fired a good header towards the top left hand corner of the goal, which forced a superb save from Darren Randolph. Kevin Gall had another attempt on goal just moments later which had Randolph beaten, but the ball smashed against the crossbar.

On 57 minutes Bury were back on the attack when Glynn Hurst managed to break through the defence down the left wing and surge into the penalty area. Hurst fired a good low drive at goal, but the ball flew into the side netting. On 67 minutes the away side got their second goal of the game when Micky Cummins fired a powerful header at goal which flew into the top left hand corner of the goal leaving Darren Randolph with no chance of reaching it.

Goal Bury 0-2 Darlington (Micky Cummins 67)

Bury nearly got themselves back in the game on 77 minutes when Elliott Bennett made a superb long run down the right wing towards the penalty area and fired a good shot across the face of goal which had David Stockdale beaten, but the ball went just inches past the right hand post. With just 3 minutes left The Shakers pulled a goal back when Elliott Bennett fired the ball into the six yard box. David Stockdale tried to claim the ball but it slipped through his hands leaving Efe Sodje with an empty net as he fired the ball into the goal to set up a grandstand finish for The Shakers.

Goal Bury 1-2 Darlington (Efe Sodje 87)

The Shakers were literally inches away from taking a late point at the end of the game when Andy Bishop fired the ball towards the right hand corner of the goal and looked a certain goal, but with the ball just inches away from the goal line the Darlington defence managed to clear the ball over the crossbar.

Fulltime: Bury 1-2 Darlington

Bury: Darren Randolph, Paul Scott (c), Colin Woodthorpe (Buchanan 72), Dave Challinor, Steve Haslam, Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, Nicky Adams (Yeo 82), Elliott Bennett, Adam Rooney (Hurst 46), Efe Sodje

Subs: Richie Baker, Glynn Hurst, David Buchanan, Andy Parrish, Simon Yeo

Darlington: David Stockdale, Neil Austin, Steve Foster (c), Ian Miller, Micky Cummins, Julian Joachim (Wainwright 46), Ricky Ravenhill, Jon Brackstone (Wiseman 82), Guy N'Dungu N'Sungu (Abbott 80), Kevin Gall, Brian Hodge

Subs: Neil Wainwright, Pawell Abbott, Przemyslaw Kazimierczak, Scott Wiseman, Kevin Burgess

Referee: Mr. Andy Hall

Attendance: 2,554 (458 Away)