After two cup exits within a week, Bury returned to Gigg Lane and got back down to business with the league. Big spenders Notts County were today's visitors, with recently appointed manager Hans Backe. Despite spending plenty of cash, the Magpies haven't steamrolled the league as yet, sitting two points ahead of the Shakers going into today's game, occupying fourth position. Bury were dealt another injury blow in midweek, with Ryan Lowe getting injured at Accrington, so Blackpool loanee striker Danny Nardiello started in his place, partnering Andy Morrell upfront.

After Notts County started brightly with a near miss in front of goal for Lee Hughes on five minutes, it was the Shakers who took the lead on eight minutes.

GOAL! A cheeky looping forward ball from Racchi was enough to beat the County offside trap and leave new boy Nardiello with space to run at Schmeichal. He took the ball deep into the box before finishing from an acute angle on the right to put the Shakers in front.

Shakers 1 Magpies 0

Morrell ran at the defence moments after the restart and seemed to have plenty of room on the left of the box to tee up a shot before losing his footing in the boggy ground. A neat pass forward from Jones on 14 minutes gave Morrell room to turn on the edge of the box, but his resulting shot was wide of the right post with Schmeichal outstretched.

Luke Rodgers came close with a cross come shot moments later but Brown got down well to gather. Hughes was left with room to run on the right wing on 16 minutes before sending a lot cross to Bishop in front of goal. Bishop was left with the easy task of tapping in from close range but his shot was blocked by the feet of Brown, with the offside flag raised.

GOAL! Bury doubled their lead on 18 minutes after Nardiello weaved his way through the Notts County defence with apparent ease, resulting in a low cross from the left of the box for Morrell to finish from close range.

Shakers 2 Magpies 0

GOAL! Notts County pulled one back on 25 minutes after a cross from Luke Rodgers from the right seemed to bounce across the box and took a final touch from Hughes' chest in front of goal.

Shakers 2 Magpies 1

Yellow card for Notts County on 31 minutes - Mike Edwards

Hughes looked close to drawing things level on 35 minutes after beating the offside trap with ease on the right of the box to latch onto a neat cross from Rodgers, but his close range effort was blocked by Brown.

GOAL! Hughes made sure of his next chance two minutes later though. He rose up well to a cross from the left and headed in from the right of the box, with the ball going in off the post.

Shakers 2 Magpies 2

Bury nearly took the lead for the third time on 40 minutes after Nardiello made space for himself yet again and ran into the box with two defenders tailing behind him. He dinked the ball over Schmeichal, and it seemed destined for the back of the net but it appeared to slow down on the boggy surface and not cross the line, leaving the ball free for Schmeichal to collect.

A goal mouth scramble ensued on 43 minutes after Jones worked hard to get into the box. Racchi and Morrell both had resulting close range efforts but Schmeichal stayed resilient. Two minutes of additional time were indicated by the fourth official but it was soon the end of an action packed first half.

After the dream start from Bury, Notts County soon got a foothold on the game with Rodgers and Hughes running the show at the front. Bury had chances to keep taking the lead, but the first period set up the second half to be a closely run contest.

Half Time - Shakers 2 Magpies 2

A free kick from Jones from the left of the box on 49 minutes was squared to BBM whose powerful drive forced a brilliant reaction save from Schmeichal to put the ball over the bar and out for a corner. The resulting ball was cleared by Notts County but eventually found the feet of Dawson well outside the area.

GOAL! Bury took the lead for the third time on 51 minutes after Dawson controlled the ball well outside the box and took a long range shot which nearly broke the net and had Schmeichel well beaten. It was a top class finish from one of Bury's finest players to date.

Shakers 3 Magpies 2

County came close to drawing things level on 55 minutes after Edwards shot from just inside the box but Brown saved, only to the feet of Rodgers who sent the ball dangerously in front of goal and crying out for a tap in. The ball was then sent back into the area for Richie to shoot but he sent it over the bar.

Substitution for Notts County on 67 minutes - Craig Westcarr on for Ricky Ravenhill

Following Bury's third goal, the game had slowed down as both sides seemed to tire. Andy Morrell was recovering from injury and was obviously not fully fit, but Nardiello was still causing problems for the County defence.

GOAL! Notts County brought themselves back into the game on 77 minutes after Hughes latched onto a forward ball on the right. The ball was eventually crossed towards the left hand post, and whilst Buchanan tried to deal with it, he was dispossessed, leaving the ball for Richie to power into the net.

Shakers 3 Magpies 3

Hughes had a sterling chance to take the lead on 79 minutes from close range, but forced an excellent save from Brown with his right hand. A curling shot from Racchi from the edge of the box on 83 minutes took a wicked deflection and went narrowly wide of the right post.

Substitution for Notts County on 85 minutes - Ade Akinbiyi on for Luke Rodgers

Substitution for Notts County on 90 minutes - John Thompson on for Brendan Maloney

Three minutes of added time were indicated by the fourth official as Sodje surged forward. His run into the box ended with the referee calling for a County free kick. Clapham took a long range shot deep into stoppage time but it went well wide. The referee eventually called time on a brilliant game of football, which saw six goals and plenty of effort from both sides.

Bury carried on their strong performances which have seen them through their current injury crisis, but the Notts County attack was often too clever to deal with. Dawson's goal was the highlight of the match, showing his recent prowess up front due to the side struggling to keep strikers injury free. Bury's unbeaten run in the league continues and a point apiece was the fairest result by the end.

Full Time - Shakers 3 Magpies 3

Attendance - 3602 (632 visitors)