Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane

The Shakers came very close to an early goal after just 3 minutes when Andy Bishop managed to intercept the ball when Lincoln defender Janos Kovacs decided to leave the ball of his keeper. Bishop managed to go over the advancing keeper, but Rob Burch's dive forward had forced Bishop to wide with the ball. The Bury striker tried his luck though from the difficult angle with an empty net, but the ball missed the target. On 7 minutes Bury were back on the advance when Andy Morrell was brought down on the right wing, but the referee allowed the advantage as Elliott Bennett made a good run to the edge of the penalty area. Bennett fired the ball into the penalty area but his ball was too high for a player to latch onto as it flew out of play.

The away side though had an opportunity of their own on 10 minutes when they were rewarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Stefan Oakes stepped up and fired a powerful shot at goal, which forced Wayne Brown to make a quick reaction save near his left hand post. Despite the chances in the opening 10 minutes, the game began to take a much slower pace with each team seeming to cancel each other's advances out.

On the half hour mark the Shakers took the lead when David Buchanan fired a good corner in to the far post for Paul Scott who did well to head the ball back across the face of goal to Andy Morrell who was able to fire the ball into the roof of the net to give Bury the lead.

Goal Bury 1-0 Lincoln (Andy Morrell 29)

On 36 minutes Lincoln got the equalizer when Janos Kovacs fired a corner into the six yard box looking for Frecklington, but the ball took an unlucky deflection off Dave Buchanan and rolled into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

Goal Bury 1-1 Lincoln (Dave Buchanan OG 36)

Halftime: Bury 1-1 Lincoln

It was the away side who had the early second half chance when Paul Green went for goal from outside the penalty area, but his shot went just wide of the right hand post. The Shakers however retook the lead on 49 minutes when Brian Barry-Murphy fired a good deep corner to the far post for Efe Sodje, who had no difficulty heading the ball over the line from close range and giving Bury back their lead.

Goal Bury 2-1 Lincoln (Efe Sodje 49)

On 50 minutes Bury were on the attack again when Elliott Bennett made a superb long run into the penalty area and tried to finish the play off, but his shot went high over the crossbar. On 65 minutes Bury were rewarded a penalty when Ben Wright pulled on Paul Scott's shirt in the penalty area. Andy Bishop stepped up and fired the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal despite keeper Rob Burch's best efforts.

Goal Bury 3-1 Lincoln (Andy Bishop PEN 65)

With just 2 minutes left Lincoln were trying their hardest to get back in the game. Adrian Patulea decided to go for goal from way outside the penalty area, which was met with an easy save from Wayne Brown.

Fulltime: Bury 3-1 Lincoln

Bury: Wayne Brown, Paul Scott, David Buchanan, Ben Futcher, Stephen Dawson, Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones (Baker 85), Efe Sodje, Andy Morrell (Hurst 74), Elliott Bennett

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

Lincoln: Rob Burch, Paul Green, Janos Kovacs, Lee Beevers, Frank Sinclair, Stefan Oakes, Lee Frecklington, Scott Keer (Gall 79), Dany N'Guessan, Lenell John-Lewis, Ben Wright (Patulea 68)

Subs: Kevin Gall, Ayden Duffy, Danny Hone, Shane Clarke, Adrian Patulea

Attendance: 2,663 (268 Away)