Report by Eric Wood at Spotland

Rochdale won the first corner of the game on 3 minutes when the corner from the left hand side swung in to Will Buckley whose good header forced Wayne Brown to backtrack and force the ball over the crossbar. On 7 minutes the Shakers took a bizarre lead when Brian Barry-Murphy's corner from the left hand side flew deep into the six yard box looking for Ben Futcher. Dale keeper Sam Russell tried to punch the ball clear; the ball instead flew into the right hand corner of the goal to give Bury the lead.

Goal Rochdale 0-1 Bury (Sam Russell OG 7)

Bury went right back on the attack and came close to another goal from a corner on 10 minutes when Ben Futcher tried to fire the ball home from the edge of a crowded penalty area. Futcher's shot however was well blocked by the Rochdale defence. Elliott Bennett fired a follow up at goal, but the ball went high over the crossbar. On 18 minutes Bury were back on the advance when Michael Jones played a good ball to Andy Bishop on the edge of the penalty area. Bishop made a good run into the penalty area and fired a powerful low drive, which was well saved by keeper Sam Russell.

Rochdale came close to the equalizer on 20 minutes when Gary Jones forced himself into the penalty area and tried to fire a shot from a difficult angle. Efe Sodje however was quick to recover, but wasn't able to shake possession. Sodje did just enough though ton put Jones off as his strike went just wide of the left hand post. The Dale were off on the counter attack on 25 minutes when Will Buckley broke away down the right flank and played the ball deep into the six yard box, but Bury keeper Wayne Brown was quick off his line and claimed possession.

The home side had another chance on 32 minutes when Will Buckley went for goal from outside the penalty area, but the ball went high over the crossbar. The Dale had another shot from distance just one minute later, this time it was Chris Dagnall who fired the ball on target but Wayne Brown was able to make a comfortable save. The Shakers came close to extending their lead on 37 minutes when Andy Bishop broke away into a one-on-one with keeper Sam Russell. Bishop fired a good shot at goal, but keeper Sam Russell did extremely well to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Stephen Dawson decided to fire a shot from long range for the away side on 43 minutes, but his shot went just over Sam Russell's crossbar.

Halftime: Rochdale 0-1 Bury

On 53 minutes Bury had a chance once again from a corner when Brian Barry-Murphy's corner swung in to the far side for Michael Jones, but his header went just wide of the right hand post. Rochdale won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area on 56 minutes when Ben Futcher was penalized. Tom Kennedy fired the free kick straight at goal, but the ball went just wide of the left hand post. The Dale were rewarded a penalty on 60 minutes when Efe Sodje was penalized for a foul on Will Buckley. Chris Dagnall stepped up to take the penalty, but Wayne Brown made a superb save diving towards his right hand post.

Rochdale came close yet again on 63 minutes when Chris Dagnall tried to fire the ball home from close range, but Wayne Brown came flying off his line and forced Dagnall to fire the ball over the crossbar.

The Dale were rewarded another penalty when Ben Futcher tripped Will Buckly just inside the penalty area, the referee pointed to the spot for Dale's second spot kick off the afternoon. Adam La Fondre stepped up to fire home the second attempt into the top right hand corner, sending keeper Wayne Brown the wrong way.

Goal Bury 1-1 Rochdale (Adam La Fondre 68)

Bury were close to regaining their lead on 70 minutes when Stephen Dawson fired a good low drive from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went just wide of Sam Russell's right hand post. Rochdale came agonizingly close once again when Will Buckley fired a shot from the edge of the area, which went just wide of Wayne Brown's left hand post.

Fulltime: Bury 1-1 Rochdale

Bury: Wayne Brown, Paul Scott, David Buchanan, Ben Futcher, Stephen Dawson, Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones, Efe Sodje, Andy Morrell (Baker 84), Elliott Bennett (Racchi 77)

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

Rochdale: Sam Russell, Scott Wiseman, Tom Kennedy, Nathan Stanton, Rory McArdle, Adam Rundle, Gary Jones, Will Buckley, Clark Keltie, Chris Dagnall, Adam Le Fondre

Subs: Simon Ramsden, Kallum Higginbotham, Lee Thorpe, Jon Shaw, Ciaran Toner

Referee: Mr. A Bates

Asst. Referees: Mr. AN Smith & Mr. P Quinn

4th Official: Mr. P Bramley