Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane

If ever The Shakers had a point to prove it was today. The Manager of the Month award has always been labelled as a curse, which was cemented last week when award winners Millwall were smashed by MK Dons 4-0. After what can only be described as an extraordinary comeback by Aldershot last week, Bury were looking to defy the omens and come away with a victory over newly promoted side Exeter. After resting out the Johnstone's Paint Trophy over Stockport on Tuesday, Efe Sodje and Stephen Dawson returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Ryan Cresswell and Richie Baker who both move back to the bench.

The first chance of the game fell to Bury after just 4 minutes when Elliott Bennett played a good ball to the edge of the six yard box for Andy Bishop who tried to find room for a shot, but the Exeter defence was well organised and managed to force the ball away. The visitors however took the lead on 7 minutes when Richard Logan's strike from the edge of the area which had keeper Wayne Brown unable to reach it as the ball flew into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to give Exeter the early lead.

Goal Bury 0-1 Exeter (Richard Logan 7)

Bury may have been a goal down early on, but The Shakers are top of the league in terms of comebacks with two wins and a draw, sop this was a game far from over. On 17 minutes Bury nearly got the equaliser when Stephen Dawson did well to soldier through the City midfield and managed to fire a shot from outside the penalty area. However, Dawson's effort lacked to accuracy desired as the ball went high over the crossbar. Dave Buchanan came close to getting his first career goal on 24 minutes when a poor clearance by the Exeter defence allowed him to go for goal on the volley. Buchanan did strike the ball and well and it did have the Exeter keeper beaten, but the ball went just wide of the right upright.

Exeter had a good opportunity to extend their lead on 27 minutes when Ryan Harley fired a good drive from outside the penalty area towards the right hand corner of the goal, but Wayne Brown did superbly well to react and managed to make the save. Just one minute later the away side came close again when Adam Stansfield played a good low ball into the six yard box. All it needed was a tap in from any of the two onrushing Exeter strikers, but neither of them were bale to make it to the ball in time as it rolled harmlessly out of play. The Shakers won a corner on 34 minutes on the right hand side. Instead of playing the ball into a packed six yard box, Brian Barry-Murphy decided to play the ball to the edge of the penalty area for Stephen Dawson, which caught the Exeter defence of guard. Bury were unable though to capitalise on City's moment of weakness as Dawson fired his long range effort high over the crossbar.

On 38 minutes Bury returned to the attack when Elliott Bennett fired a good low drive at goal from the edge of the penalty area at goal, which forced the keeper to palm the ball out of play for a corner. Brian Barry-Murphy fired a good ball into the active penalty area looking for Ben Futcher behind the keeper. The Exeter net minder Paul Jones was able to backtrack well, and just did enough to force the ball out for another corner. Bury were showing how much of a threat they are from set pieces when Efe Sodje tried to latch onto the second corner from the far post. The fallen defenders around him though managed to knock him off his stride as his header went wide of the post.

Halftime: Bury 0-1 Exeter

The Shakers began the second half flying when Elliott Bennett went for goal from distance again just a minute into the second half, which forced another save from the Exeter keeper Paul Jones. Bury had a huge cry for a penalty on 49 minutes when Andy Bishop attempted to head the ball into the top corner from close range. Bishop though was upended by an Exeter defender, which the referee decided was a clean challenge. Bury were beginning to put pressure on the Exeter defence, and on 55 minutes had two good chances when Andy Morrell did well to flick the ball on towards the far post for Andy Bishop. The Exeter keeper was struggling to get back to the line, so Bishop had nothing but daylight in front of him. His strike though wasn't what was desired as his shot went high above the crossbar. Just a few moments later Brian Barry-Murphy collected a clearance from the edge of the area and managed to find space to fire a good strike at goal. The City keeper Paul Jones was once again though quick to react as he made the save and did well to keep a hold of the ball.

Elliott Bennett came close again to starting his goal tally for the season on 60 minutes when he fired a good low shot from the left wing which looked set for the bottom corner, but Exeter defender Steve Tully was able to block the strike. With 15 minutes left in normal time Bury were continuing to power forward, and nearly got the equaliser when Andy Bishop managed to find room on the edge of the area to fire a good strike at goal, which forced the City keeper to parry the ball wide for a corner. Brian Barry-Murphy fired the resulting corner into the six yard box for Paul Scott, who just about managed to tower above his markers to head the ball at goal. Scott's header however had too much height in it as it sailed just above the crossbar.

With 9 minutes left Bury came close again when Ben Futcher managed to shake off his markers to fire a header at goal from close range. Futcher's high header was too high for the Exeter keeper to parry, but the ball didn't get down in time as it landed on the roof of the net. Bury had their best chance of the game so far on 86 minutes when Andy Bishop went for goal from close range near the right hand post. His shot was going wide, but Glynn Hurst came rushing into the area and tried to tap the ball home, but the ball had too much on it as it went out of play.

Fulltime: Bury 0-1 Exeter

Bury: 1 - Wayne Brown, 2 - Paul Scott (c), 3 - David Buchanan, 5 - Ben Futcher (6 - Ryan Cresswell 86), 7 - Stephen Dawson (8 - Richie Baker 68), 10 - Andy Bishop, 11 - Brian Barry-Murphy, 14 - Michael Jones, 16 - Efetobore Sodje, 18 - Andy Morrell (9 - Glynn Hurst 68), 23 - Elliott Bennett

Subs: 6 - Ryan Cresswell, 8 - Richie Baker, 9 - Glynn Hurst, 12 - Danny Racchi, 20 - Cameron Belford

Exeter: 27 - Paul Jones, 2 - Steve Tully, 4 - Matt Gill, 5 - Dan Seabourne (c), 6 - Matt Taylor, 7 - Ryan Harley, 9 - Adam Stansfield (19 - Ben Watson 86), 11 - Jack Obersteller (14 - Berti Cozic 77), 15 - Rob Edwards, 20 - Richard Logan (22 - Liam Sercombe 65), 21 - Dean Moxey

Subs: 1 - Andy Marriott, 3 - Fred Murray, 14 - Berti Cozic, 19 - Ben Watson, 22 - Liam Sercombe

Attendance: 3,220 (301 Away)