By Maurice Dickson at Gigg Lane

The Shakers kicked off their 125th Anniversary season looking resplendent in their new "retro" colours of Chocolate and Sky Blue halves with White trim, White Shorts and Chocolate Brown Socks whilst AFC Bournemouth were in Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

New signings Danny Carlton and Ryan Lowe led the attack whilst loan signing David Worrall, returning to Gigg Lane from The Hawthorns, and Simon Johnson, who signed a three month deal on Friday were on the bench. Paul Scott, once again, was the Shakers captain.

The Shakers, watched by former boss Chris Casper in the stands and roared on by their support, kicked off the new League season at Gigg Lane on the whistle of referee Eddie Ilderton following a minutes rapturous applause in memory of the late Sir Bobby Robson.

Bury attacked from the kick off and within a minute Carlton flashed a shot just wide of Shwan Jalal's post but there was little to indicate what was to unfold.

The Shakers had the ball in the net on 7 minutes when a delightful Ryan Lowe effort was ruled out, somewhat harshly, for offside by Linesman Mr Whitley.

Danny Carlton's persistence and aggressive style was causing the Cherries all sorts of problems and on 10 minutes he found Lowe who just couldn't get on the end of a cross from Racchi after good work by Dawson.

On 16 minutes the Cherries took the lead with a spectacular 25 yard effort from Pittman which went in off Wayne Brown's right hand post with the keeper clutching at fresh air. (0 - 1 AFCB Pittman 16 minutes)

Two minutes later the Shakers had a claim for handball ignored by the referee after a Racchi cross looked to have been handled by Bournemouth skipper Pearce 10 yards out.

On 23 Steve Fletcher should have had the games first yellow card for what looked a blatant dive in the Shakers penalty box but the ref wasn't having any of it and at this point the visitors were having much more of the ball, especially in midfield.

26 minutes into the match and good interplay between Scott and Dawson saw the latter try and feed Lowe in the box but the ball ran out harmlessly for a goal kick. A minute later Racchi's excellent cross was headed out for a corner taken by BBM to the far post but it was well held by Jalal.

29 minutes a free kick for holding by Pearce on Lowe 20 yards out was fired a yard or two over the bar by Brian Barry-Murphy.

30 minutes Scott tried to cushion a header back to Brown but instead it went out for a corner which was thumped clear by Dawson on the near post. The following attack by Bury saw Lowe's cross chased along the by-line by Jones and his good work led to a free kick. BBM took the kick and Lowe's header was saved by the Cherries keeper.

The Shakers were beginning to get back into the game more just after the half hour with Dawson and BBM getting to grips with the midfield.

36 minutes a marauding David Buchanan was fouled on the edge of the box by Guyett. Jones took a quick free kick to Dawson whose shot was deflected to Lowe and his effort spun over the cross bar for a goal kick.

38 minutes a deep cross from Pittman saw the Shakers fall further behind when an unmarked Anton Robinson's header made it 2 - 0 from 6 yards to stun the Shakers faithful. (0 - 2 AFCB Robinson 38 Minutes)

44 minutes a cross from Scott was easily held by Jalal as the Shakers searched for a goal before half time. Injury time saw a BBM corner, again, to close the Bournemouth keeper who stayed down and then made a miraculous recovery when the ref had a word.

It was hardly the most auspicious of starts to the season by the Shakers and manager Alan Knill would have had some harsh words for his men at Half Time.

Half time Bury FC 0 - 2 AFC Bournemouth.

As the Shakers came out to start the Second half, attacking the Cemetery End, there was small consolation in the fact that we weren't Norwich City fans who had seen there side go in 0 - 5 down at half time to local rivals Colchester.

Bournemouth got half under way and from the kick off and within a couple of minutes Feeney was giving Buchanan a torrid time down the Shakers left and on 50 minutes the Cherries extended their lead to three goals when another terrific effort, this time from Mark Molesley, found the top corner of Wayne Brown's goal, from the edge of the area to the delight of the travelling Bournemouth fans. (0 - 3 AFCB Molesley 50 Minutes)

The Shakers just couldn't find their rhythm and despite some neat passing saw many of their efforts broken down and cleared by the Cherries midfield and defence.

Shakers boss Alan Knill made the first change of the game on 55 minutes when ex-Shakers starlet, David Worrell, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, replaced an ineffective Danny Racchi on the right wing.

Worrall made a quick impact when his deep cross found Mike Jones on the far post and his header resulted in a shot from Ryan Lowe flashing just inches wide of Jalal's post.

Despite the best efforts of the home fans to gee the Shakers on the team huffed and puffed for little reward and on 63 minutes Worrall just failed to get on the end of a Danny Carlton pass across the 18 yard box. Worrall was beginning to see more and more of the ball as the Shakers tried to get back into the game.

66 minutes saw Eddie Howe make the Cherries first switch with the impressive Steve Fletcher being replaced by Jeff Goulding to the appreciation of the 326 visiting fans out of a crowd of 2998.

Paul Scott flashed a drive just wide of the post on 69 minutes and a moment later Bournemouth should have gone 4 - 0 up as Goulding beat a static offside trap but shot well wide across Browns goal to the relief ofthe home support.

On 71 minutes Ryan Lowe should have pulled a goal back for the Shakers after good work by Danny Carlton but his weak shot was easily gathered by the keeper. A minute later Mike Jones did well to hold off two defenders and get a shot away which, again, was saved by the Cherries keeper Jalal who, at least, had had to make more saves than Wayne Brown.

Domaine Rouse replaced Ryan Lowe up front on 73 minutes for the Shakers and Joe Partington replaced Scott Guyett for the visitors.

Rouse made an immediate impact when he fed Worrall in the box but the ball was cleared for a corner which, for the umpteenth time in the match, was held by Jalal.

Bournemouth replaced the dangerous Feeney with Bartley on 78 minutes and by this time the match looked out of the Shakers reach and the only ones doing the singing were the visiting fans but, to be honest, it was hard to get enthusiastic about such a lacklustre Shakers display although during a break in play for yet another Bournemouth injury the Cemetery End fans were still chanting 'Alan Knill's Barmy Army' despite their heroes being three goals down.

The impressive Cherries still pushed forward with five minutes to go and Molesley lobbed over Brown's bar after beating the defence to the ball. The Shakers made their final substitution when Simon Johnson replaced Mike Jones and he almost got onto the end of another Worrall cross less than thirty seconds after coming on but Partington cleared as Johnson's head flew towards the ball.

The fourth official signalled an additional five minutes of play for the numerous stoppages, mainly due to Bournemouth's players not getting on with the game, but it only prolonged the agony for the Shakers fans.

It was a dreadful start to the campaign for the Shakers and it will take a much improved performance in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night against West Bromwich Albion to appease Alan Knill and the Bury supporters.

My Shakers Man of the Match was Danny Carlton for his industry and willingness to take his man on.

Final Score Bury FC 0 - 3 AFC Bournemouth Attendance 2998 (326 Visitors)