Report by Hannah Ingram at Gigg Lane

Following an eventful week which saw Bury lose heavily in the local derby to Rochdale and beat League One Walsall in a penalty shootout in the JPT, the Shakers started this game with Accrington desperately searching for their first goal of the season at home, and a win to boot! The Shakers' league form showed two losses in their previous two games - a statistic that Alan Knill's men were hoping to add a win to.

After a relatively slow start to the game from both teams, it was Bury who had the brighter opportunity on five minutes after Robertson and Bishop combined well going forward, and passing out wide to Wiorrell. He worked his way into the box and passed to Dawson who was pushed over in the box, but the referee waved away any penatly appeals. Dawson was causing Accrington problems on 10 minutes, forcing a corner which BBM took, but the resulting header from Robertson was wide.

After being upended on 15 minutes, Robertson won a free kick well outside the box. He and BBM stood over it, with Robertson eventually taking it and sending it straight into the Stanley wall. The famous offside trap came a cropper on 24 minutes as Sodje and co walked forward as Stanley sent in a free kick. All five Accrington players had to be offside but the linesman didn't raise his flag; he only moved his arm to indicate the goal kick to Bury after Grant headed well wide.

Turner made some space on the right hand side after a mistake in midfield from BBM. He crossed the ball to the head of Mills who was challenged by Sodje, sending the ball out of play. BBM won a free kick ten yards inside the Stanley half on 34 minutes; he sent it towards the far post looking for Sodje but he could only head wide. Moments later, Mills was bracing forward and worming his way around the Bury defence, eventually teeing up a long range shot that seemed to go only just wide.

Robertson made the best of a looping forward ball on 37 minutes, and confidently made his way into the box to challenge Dunbavin in the Stanley net. The linesman judged him to be offside however, and he put his shot wide regardless. A BBM corner with two minutes of the half remaining went begging as Scott was outstretched to try and get a touch on the ball which went out of play for a goal kick.

One minute of additional time was indicated by the fourth official as BBM sent a curling free kick into the box from the right of the box, once again looking for Sodje at the far post. The ball went out for a corner, which was aimed for Scott but was cleared. Moments later and Bishop lined up a strong shot but it was cleared on the line by Kempson.

As the half time whistle blew, the sides left the field in a reasonably uneventful first half. Accrington had played the better football but had failed to finish off any chances. Bury seemed disjointed and a bit nervous in front of goal, and time seemed to pass slowly in the opening session of play.

Half Time - Shakers 0 Stanley 0

Substitution for Bury at Half Time - Ryan Lowe on for Jordan Robertson

The sides returned to the field with one substitution for Bury, and with both sides looking to break the deadlock. Bury made a promising start, with Bishop making space well in the box on 46 minutes and managing to send a shot just over the bar from an acute angle. Accrington won a corner on 47 minutes which Mills sent low into the box and which seemed to skim everyone's heads before being cleared. Bury claimed a corner on 53 minutes which BBM took, aiming for the head of Sodje at the far post, but Accrington seemed to be able to read Bury's game plan and cleared the threat.

Lowe made space well making a run forward just before the hour, latching onto a good forward ball from Bishop, but he was judged to be offside. Edwards was judged to have fouled Johnson on 61 minutes, earning Bury a free kick in BBM territory. Edwards came off worse in the challenge and hobbled to the sideline whilst BBM sent the free kick well over the bar.

A clever through ball from Lowe on 67 minutes set up Johnson with space in the box. He passed to Worrall who then crossed the ball to Bishop who only had to provide a tap in from five yards, but he sent it wide. It was the Shakers' easiest chance of the match so far! The Shakers were back on the attack moments later, with Worrall fighting for every ball on the left hand side. He squared the ball to Dawson who was upended, earning Bury a free kick just outside the box; Lowe sent the free kick straight into the Accrington wall.

Substitution for Bury on 70 minutes - Richie Baker on for David Worrall

Symes had a good chance to break the deadlock on 74 minutes, pulling away from the Bury defence and left with space on the left hand side of the box. He sent his low shot well wide, with Brown having it covered. Johnson tinkered on the edge of the box on 81 minutes, weaving around the Stanley defence. The home fans were screaming 'shoot' and Johnson obliged, forcing a save from Dunbavin, giving Bury a corner. BBM sent it towards the far post once again, but the ball was cleared for another corner which was also cleared.

Substitution for Accrington on 81 minutes - Peter Murphy on for Phil Edwards

GOAL: Accrington took the lead on 83 minutes after Robert Grant latched onto a loose forward ball and beat Wayne Brown in the Bury net for a badly defended opening goal.

Shakers 0 Stanley 1

GOAL: Stanley were back moments later to extend their lead as Bury looked slow on the uptake at the back. Symes was left with space in the box after Sodje lost the ball, leaving him free to square to Grant once more who had an easy finish from close range. For a game with little activity, a lot happened in the closing stages!

Shakers 0 Stanley 2

Substitution for Bury on 84 minutes - Domaine Rouse on for Simon Johnson

Grant carried on looking for his hat-trick on 89 minutes, beating the offside trap but firing well over the bar. Four minutes of added time were indicated by the fourth official as Accrington went forward once again. The remainder of the match was played out as Accrington took the ball forward and Bury looked for a consolation. As the referee called time on the match, the home fans were left less than impressed as the Shakers still have yet to score on home turf this season, and fell behind to two goals in quick succession in the closing stages. It always looked like one goal would win it, but Robert Grant had other ideas! He looked on course for a nippy hat-trick but it wasn't to be, and he earned Accrington their biggest win of the season so far instead. Bury provided a disappointing performance, and will look to improve on that next week for sure.

Full Time - Shakers 0 Stanley 2

Attendance - 3082 (294 visitors)