Bury vs. Rochdale - Reported by Hannah Ingram at Gigg Lane

After extending their unbeaten run to five matches last weekend with a 1-0 win against lowly Hereford, Bury returned to home turf for the third consecutive match to face Rochdale, their east-Lancashire rivals. Arguably the most anticipated fixture for both sides had eventually arrived after being moved to the Monday night, and saw two teams on impressive runs line up against each other. Whislt the Shakers had burst into the automatic promotion places in recent matches, Rochdale had soared to the top spot in League Two after a loss in mid-November saw them start a six-game winning streak, beating formidable opposition including Notts County and Shrewsbury in the process.

Bury's last six matches at home saw five wins and a draw, whilst Rochdale's away record for the last six matches saw four wins and two draws. The result for tonight's fixture would be a tough one to predict, but it had the added spice of no longer being a tussle over local pride and a higher league position in mid-table; both sides want promotion this year after both missing out in last season's play-offs.

After a frought initial ten minutes which saw both sides try and get a foothold on the game, Bury were given a good chance on goal on 12 minutes after Lowe was fouled on the edge of the box by Stanton. BBM took the free kick from the right of the goal with his trusty left foot only to see it sail straight into the Rochdale wall. The resulting loose ball fell to Morrell inside the penalty area whose resulting shot was well wide.

Bury's were offered a chance on goal on 21 minutes after Lowe had threaded the ball through to Morrell in the box, who then squared to Dawson waiting in front of goal. Dawson then took a snap shot with his right foot, which was on target but straight at Frank Fielding in the Dale net.

O'Grady was left with time to turn on the edge of the Bury box on 39 minutes after Dale had taken the ball forward on the right wing. Turning and shooting with his left foot, his shot was well over the bar. A poor shot from O'Grady on 42 minutes caught a deflection and was sent out of play for the first corner of the match. Taken on the right by ex-Shaker Kennedy, it curled into the box towards the head of Craig Dawson but Sodje had him covered.

One minute of additional time was indicated by the fourth official as Rochdale were awarded a goal kick as a Bury attack failed to materialise from a Scott throw in. Time was soon called on a half which saw Bury have the lion's share of possession, but that didn't produce any goals.

Half Time - Shakers 0 Dale 0

Worrall dispossessed Tom Kennedy on right wing on 47 minutes as he paced forwards with the ball. Kennedy brought him down only to be booked for his troubles.

Yellow card for Rochdale on 47 minutes - Tom Kennedy

The resulting free kick was taken by BBM on the right of the box, only to see it put out for a corner. Taken again by BBM, it landed deep into the penalty box at the far post, but with nobody there to meet it. Jones took a long rang snapshot on 51 minutes only to see it go wide of the left post.

O'Grady caught the Shakers out on 55 minutes after he reacted quickly to a throw in from the left hand side. He took the ball into the left of the box but the pace of the pass saw it go out for a goal kick.

Substitution for Rochdale on 55 minutes - Temitope Obadeyi on for Joe Thompson

Worrall earned Bury a corner on 59 minutes, which was taken from the right by BBM. Swinging deep into the box once more, it was headed across the goal by Futcher looking for Sodje at the opposite post. The resulting effort was headed off the line by Atkinson and Dale cleared the ball forwards.

Yellow card for Bury on 62 minutes - Efe Sodje

Yellow card for Rochdale on 69 minutes - Scott Wiseman

Dagnall came close to breaking the deadlock on 70 minutes after a corner from the left was planted straight onto his head. His header had pace but was straight into the hands of Brown in the Bury net.

Jones played some lovely football down the left wing on74 minutes, beating his man and then another before passing the ball through to Worrall on the left of the box; his curling effort was straight at Fielding and an easy save.

O'Grady missed a golden chance to put his side in front on 75 minutes after Obadeyi managed to take the ball from Buchanan on the backline. Passing in front of goal for the waiting O'Grady, he was left with the simplest of finishes from five yards but managed to put it wide of the left post.

GOAL! Bury took the lead on 78 minutes after Morrell dispossessed his marker on the right wing. Threading the ball through to Ryan Lowe pacing forward, Lowe was left with the task of slotting the ball past Fielding from the right of the box, which he did with flair.

Double substitution for Rochdale on 80 minutes - Kallum Higginbotham on for Chris O'Grady, Andy Howarth on for Will Atkinson

Substitution for Bury on 87 minutes - Ryan Cresswell on for Efe Sodje

Obadeyi had time to shoot from the left of the box on 90 minutes but managed to put the ball out of the ground.

Substitution for Bury in added time - Andy Bishop on for Ryan Lowe

Four minutes of added time were indicated by the fourth official as Bury wasted a fantastic opportunity to double their lead. Morrell took a shot from the right of the box only to see it bobble wide, and the resulting shot from Jones on the opposite site went across the goal and out for a goal kick.

Substitution for Bury in added time - Richie Baker on for David Worrall

After a nervous final few minutes, time was soon called on a hot-tempered Lancashire derby which saw Bury take the share of the points and left top-of-the-table Rochdale with nothing.

Rochdale will rue their virtually nailed on chance from O'Grady in the second half which he somehow sent wide, but it was Bury's night. After having most of possession throughout the match, Bury eventually got their reward as Lowe showed why he is a leading scorer with a clinical finish with twelve minutes to play. Their lead could have been doubled in the dying moments, but a slender lead gave the Shakers the points they deserved.

A trip across the Pennines is the Shakers' next challenge at the weekend as they travel to Bradford to face the Bantams for the second time in three weeks.

Full Time - Shakers 1 Dale 0

Attendance - 6528 (1996 visitors)