Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane

The Shakers were the first on the attack after 5 minutes when Andy Bishop forced his way through the Morecambe defence and tried to find room to get a clear shot at goal. The Morecambe defence though managed to recover well and force Bishop away from goal. It was the away side though that took the lead when Matthew Blinkhorn played the ball to the edge of the six yard box for Rene Howe who fired his first touch straight at goal, and past Wayne Brown into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

Goal Bury 0-1 Morecambe (Rene Howe 13)

Just 5 minutes later Bury were back on level terms when The Shakers won a corner on the right hand side. Brian Barry-Murphy fired the ball into the crowded six yard box were Paul Scott managed to tower above the Morecambe keeper and head the ball powerfully past him to put the Shakers back on level terms.

Goal Bury 1-1 Morecambe (Paul Scott 21)

On 25 minutes Bury were back on the attack when Andy Morrell made a good run down the left wing and tried to play the ball into a wide open penalty area, but the Morecambe defence managed to force the ball away from danger. On 28 minutes Bury took the lead after a long period of attacking football when Elliott Bennett made a superb run down the right wing, running rings around the Morecambe defenders. Bennett played a good ball into the penalty area looking for Andy Bishop on the far post, but the ball took a deflection off unlucky defender David Artell and flew into the top right hand corner goal, leaving keeper Barry Roche routed to the spot.

Goal Bury 2-1 Morecambe (David Artell OG 30)

The away side should have had the equalizer on 36 minutes when Wayne Curtis made a good run into the penalty area and tried his lucky from close range. However his shot went straight across the face of goal and out of play. The best chance Morecambe has had since they opened the scoring. Bury could have got on the score sheet again when Andy Bishop got possession with space on the edge of the penalty area, but the Morecambe defence again remained strong and prevented him from playing the ball into the penalty area.

Halftime: Bury 2-1 Morecambe

The away side was the first back on the attack at the beginning of the second half when Rene Howe made a long run into the penalty area and fired a good shot at goal from a difficult angle, which forced Wayne Brown to tip the ball wide of the left hand post. Morecambe had started the second half in control, and came close to an equalizer on 58 minutes when Wayne Curtis played a good ball into the penalty area, which forced Wayne Brown to punch the ball clear.

On 60 minutes Morecambe were on the attack again when Matthew Blinkhorn played the ball to Wayne Curtis on the edge of the penalty area who fired a shot at goal on the volley. Curtis however didn't strike the ball the way he intended and it flew well wide of the left hand post. Bury came close to extending their lead and putting it beyond Morecambe's reach on 69 minutes when Andy Bishop fired a good header at goal from close range, which forced a superb reaction save from Morecambe keeper Barry Roche. The home side had another good chance on 77 minutes when Danny Racchi went for glory with a powerful drive from outside the penalty area which forced Barry Roche to make another good save.

With just one minutes of normal time remaining Bury nearly sealed it when Andy Bishop made another superb run into the penalty area and managed to find space to fire a good shot at goal, which again was met by a good save by the Morecambe keeper.

Fulltime: Bury 2-1 Morecambe

Bury:Wayne Brown, Paul Scott, David Buchanan, Ben Futcher, Stephen Dawson, Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones, Efetobore Sodje, Andy Morrell (Hurst 75), Elliott Bennett (Racchi 65)

Substitutes:Ryan Cresswell, Richie Baker, Glynn Hurst, Danny Racchi, Cameron Belford

Morecambe:Barry Roche, David Artell, Jim Bentley (C), Wayne Curtis, Rene Howe, Neil Wainwright, Ryan McCann (O'Carroll 87), Michael Carr (Drummond 80), Matthew Blinkhorn, Henry McStay, Danny Adams

Substitutes:Garry Hunter, Diarmuid O'Carroll, Stuart Drummond, Andy Parrish, Scott Davies

Referee: Mr. L Probert (Wilts)
Assistant (Red Yellow): Mr. D Bond
Assistant (Yellow): Mr. D Mohareb
4th Official: Mr. O Langford

Attendance: 2,679 (284 Away)