Darlington vs. Bury - reported by Hannah Ingram at the Darlington Arena

Bury came to the Darlington Arena searching for their first league win of the new season after falling at the first hurdle against Bournemouth at Gigg Lane on the opening day. After the 2-0 defeat to West Brom in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, striker Danny Carlton was ruled out for at least four months with a snapped achilles, so manager Alan Knill brought in re-enforcements in the shape of Jordan Robertson, on loan from Sheffield United. Jordan was put straight into the team for today's game, partnering Ryan Lowe upfront. Fellow loanee David Worrall also had a started berth, helping on the wings after his arrival from West Brom last week. Darlington are looking for a much brighter season after suffering at the hands of the credit crunch last year, and prior to this season. The Quakers also lost on their opening day, and were keen to put the first win on record for this year.

Darlo had the first corner of the game on three minutes, taken by Jeff Smith, he aimed for the head of Bower but BBM was there in good time to clear the danger. Moments later and Jones won a corner for Bury, which he sent to the near post to be cleared with ease. Dowson thought he had reason to appeal against an apparent foul from Sodje in the box on seven minutes, only for the referee to wave it away. Jeff Smith sent a clever ball through the Bury defence on nine minutes, only to see it passed back to him by Sodje. Smith had another go with an ambitious shot which went miles over the bar and into the Bury fans sitting behind the net.

Paul Arnison wanted Robertson's shirt for himself on 14 minutes, dragging him all over the place for a nothing ball in midfield. Referee Mr Sarginson had a quick word and offered some clam after a hectic few seconds. A forward ball for Bury was left by Robertson on 16 minutes as he was offside, but Michael Jones had beat the trap effectively, and was then tackled by Darlo goalkeeper David Knight, well outside the area, and with seemingly no touch on the ball. The referee had was having nothing of the Bury appeals for a free kick, awarding a goal kick to the Quakers instead. Was he the last man? Could be one for the TV replay to decide who was right with that one!

David Worrall did well to make space on the right hand side of the box on 18 minutes, sending in a looping cross for Futcher. The ball was cleared, only as far as the waiting Paul Scott who sent a powerful drive just over the bar from the edge of the box. A clever cross from Worrall on 24 minutes was left by Lowe for Robertson who sent a low shot towards goal from just inside the box, but it was gathered easily by Knight.

Arnison earned the Quakers a corner on 29 minutes after BBM was dispossessed. The ball dropped and was crying out for a close range finish, and it seemed to be Thorpe's chance to break the deadlock, only for him to miss it completely and the ball be cleared by Bury. Jeff Smith sent in a promising free kick for the Quakers on 35 minutes after a clumsy foul from Jones on the right hand side. Foster got up well and headed the ball straight at Brown, only for the linesman to judge him as being offside.

A long ball forward from BBM on 37 minutes was controlled well by Robertson and crossed for Lowe, whose shot was blocked and sent out for a corner. BBM sent in the corner from the right, aiming for Sodje at the far post, but the ball was far too deep and went out for a goal kick. Some clever play from Jones and Robertson just before half time almost set up Lowe in front of goal but he failed to read the play and the Quakers waded in to clear the ball.

As the referee called time on the first half, the sides were not only equal in the score line, but in the game overall. Both sides had chances to break the deadlock but had wasted them. Bury might have felt aggrieved that the challenge from Knight on Jones was not punished as it seemed that Jones was the last man on goal, but the game remained all square. Loanees Worrall and Robertson had an impressive first half, with slick passing and tricky footwork to upset the Darlo back line. All that was lacking for either side was the finishing touch, but with 45 minutes still to play, it was still anyone's game.

Half Time - Quakers 0 Shakers 0

Both sides returned to the field with no substitutions made. Darlo started brightly in the first minute of the second half, with a flicked header forward from Foster opening up the Bury defence but to no avail. A nice pass from BBM on 50 minutes set up Jones on the left hand side of the box, he crossed the ball to Lowe whose low show was deflected away for a corner. Taken by BBM, it was initially cleared before Worrall struck an ambitious shot from well outside the area which ended up with the Bury fans behind the net. More fancy footwork from Robertson on 53 minutes set up Buchanan on the left of the box, but his cross was far too speedy and deep, flying past the waiting Lowe.

A superb cross field ball from BBM on 56 minutes set up Worrall on the right of the box. He sent in a cross for Lowe whose header was foiled, and the follow up was also blocked; it was a good spurt of pressure from the Shakers which saw Worrall oozing with confidence.

The confidence continued just before the hour as Bury took the lead in style. From the end of a Quakers attack, Robertson was sent the ball down the left hand side, and co-ordinating with Worrall, he made space in the box to await the cross from Worrall. He beat the offside trap with ease, leaving the Darlo back line guessing, and beating Knight in the Darlo goal with a cheeky header. The travelling Shakers behind the net were elated with the build-up play and resulting goal, making Robertson his own song to boot.

Quakers 0 Shakers 1

Bury had a sterling chance to make it two on 63 minutes after Worrall managed to drag the keeper out to the corner flag, and then beat him with some nifty footwork. With the keeper tracking back to cover the net, Worrall crossed to Robertson whose shot lacked pace and was blocked easily on the line.

Substitution for Darlington on 64 minutes - Mark Convery on for Chris Lumsdon

Lee Thorpe had the easiest chance of the game so far on 65 minutes after a clever ball was slowly fed through to his feet, beating Futcher, but he toe poked it into the arms of Brown in the Bury net from ten yards. The Darlo faithful were convinced he'd been pulled back and appealed for a penalty but to no avail.

Substitution for Bury on 70 minutes - Andy Morrell on for Ryan Lowe

Straight from the off, Morrell latched onto a long ball forward, heading it on for Jones who crossed to Worrall, far on the right of the box. He sent a curling cross into the box for the head of Robertson, who headed the ball downwards, only to watch it bounce and then travel over the bar.

Substitution for Darlington on 74 minutes - Dean Windass on for Jeff Smith

Windass was left with space in the box on 77 minutes after a strong Quakers cross, but his shot was blocked by the Bury backline and cleared forwards for Worrall.

Substitution for Darlington on 79 minutes - Curtis Main on for David Dowson

Substitution for Bury on 81 minutes - Simon Johnson on for David Worrall

The home fans were becoming increasingly frustrated by Bury's methods of running down the clock in the final ten minutes. The Shakers shrugged off the boos however, with Jones making a fine run down the left on 83 minutes. He sent in a low cross for Morrell who got on a touch on it from an acute angle, letting Knight palm the ball away. Lee Thorpe came close to claiming an equaliser with five minutes left, but Sodje got to the header first, sending it out for a corner. The Quakers came even closer moments later after Brown fumbled a catch from a Darlo cross, but eventually got down to smother the ball.

Brown made another mistake with 2 minutes remaining; after dropping the ball, he then brought down a Darlo player and they were quite rightly awarded a penalty. Brown received a yellow card for his part in the action as he retreated back to his line to face Dean Windass from the spot. Windass wasted the chance to gain his side a point, as he sent a powerless shot straight at Brown who got down well to block.

Yellow card for Bury on 89 minutes - Wayne Brown

Brown stopped a few Bury hearts moments later after he got up to gather the ball following a Darlo corner, only to miss it completely first time around. The resulting rebound shot was gathered by the Bury keeper and Bury retained their lead as the fourth official indicated four minutes of additional time.

Darlington continued to press on during additional time, appearing hungry for a point after squandering their penalty. Bury remained resilient though as the referee called time on an adrenaline-fuelled second half. After a rather equal first half, Bury came out fighting in the second half, going forward more and linking up well upfront. David Worrall and Michael Jones were on fine form on the wings, whilst Robertson and Lowe combined with ease as a strike force. It took strength to fight against the late Darlington attack, but the Bury back line kept their lead and took the all-important three points home.

Full Time - Quakers 0 Shakers 1

Attendance: 2310 (330 Shakers)

Bury:Wayne Brown, Paul Scott, David Buchanan, Ben Futcher, Stephen Dawson, Brian Barry-Murphy, Jordan Robertson, Michael Jones, Ryan Lowe, Efe Sodje, David Worrall

On the Bench:Simon Johnson, Ryan Cresswell, Richie Baker, Danny Racchi, Andy Morrell, Cameron Belford, Domaine Rouse

Darlington:David Knight, Paul Arnison, Mark Bower, Stephen Foster, Ian Miller, Jeff Smith, Chris Lumsdon, Lee Thorpe, Gary Smith, Jamie Chandler, David Powson

On the Bench:Matthew Plummer, Dean Windass, James Bennett, Nick Liversedge, Curtis Main, Dan Groves, Mark Convery

Referee:Mr C Sarginson
Assistant:Mr C Akers
Assistant:Mr D SAtreet
4th Official:Mr B Gordon