Signs of what was to come were there before our very eyes within 30 seconds of the game starting, a long ball from the back saw Chris Dagnall with space and time break into the box, only a lung busting run from Stephen Dawson prevented the home side from taking an opening minute lead as he charged into the area, got in front of the Dale striker and smothered the chance to ease the ball out of play for a Bury goal kick.

It took another eight minutes before either side carved out anything of note, but when it did come it was the Shakers that broke with erstwhile intent.A long diagonal ball from the half way line from Danny Racchi saw the ball drop on the right bootlace of David Worrall in the opposite corner, his first touch controlled the ball superbly and a quick hook found the ball at the feet of striker Ryan Lowe, pressure from Marcus Holness though forced Lowe to snap a shot off on goal but his effort could only find the side netting.

An opening spell of few chances saw the ball flirting occasionally with the final third of either half of the pitch, but the next half chance came on 20 minutes when former Shaker Jason Kennedy charged at the Bury box.He took the ball past Brian Barry-Murphy and as he was shaping to drive the ball at goal, Stephen Dawson again through caution to the wind to kill any shot dead and saw the popular Irishman walk away with the ball at his feet.Three minutes later and keeper Kenny Arthur launched a long ball forward, Ben Futcher met the challenge of a Dagnall run and poked the ball away for a home corner, from that corner kick, the Shakers back line half cleared the ball only to give away a free kick with a lazy Sodje challenge on Chris O'Grady on the edge of the box.Thankfully the free kick was wasted and Bury scrambled the ball clear.

Rochdale threatened again on 38 minutes with Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall combining well to get the ball into the Bury box.Dagnall was swinging his right foot back to shoot on goal when Danny Racchi suddenly appeared with a Stephen Dawsonesque challenge to clear the danger.

Three minutes later and the impressive Thompson took the ball and new signing Tom Newey into the corner, where the former Grimsby player was forced to tap out for a corner kick, the resulting corner saw Ben Futcher rise above O'Grady to powerfully head the ball clear.

The first half dominance from the home side almost finished with a goal when Gary Jones, making his 400th appearance for Rochdale either over hit a cross into the box or attempted an audacious lob into the top corner, either way, the chance fell too high and wide of the top corner of Wayne Brown's goal - but not by much.

Half time:Rochdale 0 Bury 0

Two weeks ago, the Shakers produced a second half performance of stunning proportions' at Hereford and hopes were high from the visiting supporters that we would see the same.Sadly it wasn't to be and the Shakers put in their worst 45 minutes of the season thus far.

Within two minutes of the game restarting, O'Grady flicked a Tom Kennedy ball into the past of Dagnall, his quick turn on the edge of the box carved out a great chance for a shot on goal, but thankfully he only managed to squeeze the ball past the upright and out for a goal kick.

Jason Kennedy was next in the queue for an attempt on goal, his long range drive flying wide of the target.A minute later and the front two combined superbly again with Dagnall being presented with a superb chance to open the scoring, though fortunately his killer instinct was thwarted by a fine save from Wayne Brown.

Bury's performance was summed up by their first shot on target - with 50 minutes on the clock.Ryan Lowe received the ball from Jordan Robertson on the corner of the Dale box.His quick turn and run into the box brought a good chance, but the former Chester striker could only fire the ball directly at Kenny Arthur who saved easily.

The opening goal was coming and it was no surprise when it arrived.Will Buckley showed a clean pair of heels to Sodje as he tore into the box, he got to the byline and clipped a precision cross to the far side of the area where Joe Thompson volleyed the ball at goal, with a good deflection of a Bury defender; the ball fell into the back of the net.

Goal:Rochdale 1 Bury 0 (Thompson 59)

Bury won a corner from their next forage forward, Danny Racchi's delivery eventually being headed wide of the target by Paul Scott.Alan Knill then sent a clear message to the two starting strikers by dragging both off and replaced them with Andy's Bishop& Morrell.

Within a minute of the double substitution, the game should have been over as a competitive match.Will Buckley took control of the ball and waltzed it through the heart of the Bury defence and carved open a glorious chance.With only Wayne Brown to beat, Buckley took the early shot - partly because of Brown's sudden charge forward of his line, the ploy worked a treat as Brown smothered the effort and denied the home side a second goal.

Domaine Rouse, back from the naughty step after recent mis-demeanours - angered his fellow strikers' moments later when he took a wild swing at goal from 30 yards.The ball brought danger to two blokes halfway up the Dale stand and 20 wide of the post, but the reaction from Bishop and Morrell showed the frustration being displayed from the Shakers.

Rochdale deservedly doubled their lead on 73 minutes when a long ball from the back caught the Bury back line flapping.Dagnall latched onto the ball, charged into the Bury box and calmly slotted home for 2-0.

Goal:Rochdale 2 Bury 0 (Dagnall 73)

Chris Dagnall should have made it three two minutes later but again Wayne Brown thwarted the striker with another fine save.With just nine minutes on the clock remaining, another surging run from the home side saw a penalty awarded.Much confusion surrounded the press box as to why, not that it mattered as former Shaker Tom Kennedy almost broke the net with a firmly struck spot kick top make it 3-0.

Goal:Rochdale 3 Bury 0 (T Kennedy Pen 81)

Rochdale could and probably should have scored more, they had their chances and but for the saves for Wayne Brown and some good challenges from Racchi and Dawson earlier, we could have been talking of a much worse scoreline.In truth the Shakers struggled to re-capture anything and thankfully the referee blew the final whistle before it got any worse.

Final Score:Rochdale 3 Bury 0

Gate:4,534 (Away support unknown)