Reported by Eric Wood at Gigg Lane

The Shakers were looking to build on their victory over Dagenham in their midweek game against Rotherham at Gigg Lane. Bury named an unchanged side for the tenth straight league game with new loan signing Chris O'Grady on the bench. If it wasn't for the points deficit handed out to Rotherham at the start of the season this would have been a top of the table clash. It was a game with plenty of connections as both Alan Knill and Chris O'Grady had spent time with the Millers. If that wasn't enough ex-Bury keeper Andy Warrington was in goal for the visitors and former Bury trialist Drewe Broughton was up front.

The away side started the game flying and get the opening goal after just 2 minutes when a deep ball to Reuben Reid set him up with plenty of space in front of him to work with. The Bury defence tried to recover, but Reid was able to out pace them and slot the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal to give the visitors the early lead.

Goal Bury 0-1 Rotherham (Reuben Reid 2)

Bury went instantly on the attack to try and get back on level terms. Andy Bishop had a good close range opportunity on 5 minutes, but his effort went wide of Andy Warrington's right hand post. On 8 minutes the Millers returned to the attack when Reuben Reid forced his way into the penalty area to fire a close range effort, but Wayne Brown stood his ground and made the easy save near his right hand upright. On 10 minutes the visitors doubled their early lead when Drewe Broughton fired a superb swerving header which narrowly beat the dive of Wayne Brown and flew into the top left hand corner to give Rotherham the surprise early two goal lead.

Goal Bury 0-2 Rotherham (Drewe Broughton 10)

The home side instantly went back onto the attack, desperately trying to reduce their deficit. The Shakers won a free kick on the edge of the area on 11 minutes when Stephen Dawson was brought down. Andy Bishop fired the kick straight at goal, but the ball went just wide of the right hand post. Dave Buchanan almost got off the mark for the Shakers on 17 minutes when Andy Morrell flicked the ball onto him to the edge of the penalty area. Buchanan fired a good low drive at goal, but the ball went just inches wide of the far left hand upright.

On 29 minutes Bury pulled a goal back when Michael Jones fired a superb delivery into the six yard box for Paul Scott whose close range header flew past Andy Warrington into the top left hand corner to get a goal back for Bury and give them hope of an equaliser before the end of the half.

Goal Bury 1-2 Rotherham (Paul Scott 29)

Bury went straight back on the attack when Andy Bishop played a superb ball to the opposite side of the field for Elliott Bennett who was able to catch the Rotherham defence of guard and make a good penetrating run into the penalty area. Bennett played a superb low ball into the penalty area looking for Andy Morrell. However, Andy Warrington was quick off his line and was bale to parry it. The ball though went straight to the feet of Andy Morrell who tried to fire the ball home, but Warrington was able to block the shot. On 34 minutes Bury continued to control possession and nearly got the equaliser when Andy Bishop fired a long range effort from outside the penalty area, but the ball went high over the crossbar.

The Shakers came close to the equaliser on 44 minutes when Michael Jones played a good low ball into the area looking for Andy Morrell, but his close range shot went straight into the hands of Andy Warrington.

Halftime: Bury 1-2 Rotherham

The second half began with Bury in control of possession, and they almost made it count on 50 minutes when Andy Morrell played a good ball into the penalty area looking for Andy Bishop, but the ball had just too much on it as it went high over his head and out of play. Just a few minutes later Andy Bishop had another chance to get the equaliser when he won the ball on the edge of the six yard box and decided to try and force the ball over the line. However, the Rotherham defence were quick to react and they managed to force the ball away from danger.

The visitors almost got their third goal on 67 minutes when Alex Rhodes exploded down the left flank on the counter attack. Rhodes played the ball to the edge of the penalty area for Micky Cummins who went for goal with nothing but daylight in front of him. His shot though lacked the accuracy desired as it flew past the right hand post. The Shakers could have got the bizarre equaliser on 70 minutes when Michael Jones' corner swerved in the wind towards goal, forcing keeper Andy Warrington to parry the ball clear.

Bury were rewarded a penalty on 79 minutes when Chris O'Grady was dragged down just inside the penalty area. Andy Bishop stepped up and fired a good shot towards the bottom left hand corner, but Andy Warrington did well to predict the direction of the ball as he parried the penalty wide. On 84 minutes Bury came very close to getting the equaliser when Chris O'Grady played a superb ball into the six yard box for Ben Futcher who tried to force it over the line from close range, but the Rotherham defence remained strong and prevented the goal.

With just a few minutes left Bury came very close to the tying goal when Dave Buchanan fired a good shot on the volley which had to be well parried by Andy Warrington. Wayne Brown came rushing to the penalty area for the resulting corner, and nearly got the goal with his flying header but it went just wide.

Fulltime: Bury 1-2 Rotherham

Bury: 1 - Wayne Brown, 2 - Paul Scott (c), 3 - David Buchanan, 5 - Ben Futcher (12 - Danny Racchi 89), 7 - Stephen Dawson, 10 - Andy Bishop, 11 - Brian Barry-Murphy, 14 - Michael Jones, 16 - Efetobore Sodje, 18 - Andy Morrell (15 - Chris O'Grady 57), 23 - Elliott Bennett

Subs: 4 - Steve Haslam, 8 - Richie Baker, 9 - Glynn Hurst, 12 - Danny Racchi, 15 - Chris O'Grady

Rotherham: 1 - Andy Warrington, 2 - Dale Tonge, 24 - Andrew Nicholas, 6 - Nick Fenton, 5 - Ian Sharps, 4 - Danny Harrison, 25 - Pablo Mills (c), 7 - Micky Cummins, 23 - Reuben Reid (12- Marc Joseph 81), 22 - Drewe Broughton (29 - Richie Barker 64), 15 - Alex Rhodes

Subs: 29 - Richie Barker, 9 - Mark Burchill, 12 - Marc Joseph, 10 - Mark Hudson, 30 - Steven Cann

Attendance: 2,362 (333 Away)