Bury 0 Crawley Town 2
by Hannah Ingram at Gigg Lane

Bury were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by League Two's Crawley Town in a game that the Shakers failed to get their feet into in the first half.

An energetic Crawley side fought for every ball and Tyrone Barnett got his reward for various strong headers in the box soon after half time, putting away the goal he had been threatening for some time.

Their second effectively killed the game with little more than ten minutes remaining - a nippy well-worked move saw Josh Simpson cross low to substitute Michael Doughty who fired home from around the penalty spot.

Tyrone Barnett seemed inches from taking the lead for the visitors on 9 minutes - a swirling cross from Dean Howell met his head in front of goal but he somehow headed wide.

A forward pass from Shane Byrne picked out Peter Sweeney on the right moments later - he cut inside and shot from the edge of the box, only to see his effort deflected just wide.

Bury yellow card on 15 minutes - Shane Byrne

The Shakers were let off the hook on 18 minutes when a backwards header from Ashley Eastham wasn't collected by Cameron Belford, allowing the Bury defence to be cut open before a rash clearance kept the score at 0-0.

Dannie Bulman tried his luck from the edge of the box on 26 minutes after a Crawley free kick spilled out to his feet. Belford's hands were stung, but he gathered the ball in front of him.

A dangerous cross from Matt Tubbs went begging on 28 minutes as it skimmed the face of the goal, with the Bury defence clearing it at the far post.

Tubbs sent a low shot goal bound on 31 minutes after a cross from Andy Drury was cleared into his path on the edge of the box, but a panicking Bury defence piled in to block the effort and clear the ball.

Tubbs was back for more on 38 minutes, beating the offside trap and shooting from the right of the box, only for Belford to make an important save at the near post and send the ball out for a corner.

Time was soon called on an interesting first half for both sides - Crawley definitely had the edge and Bury were struggling to find a way through at the other end.

Half Time - Bury 0 Crawley Town 0

A free kick from Drury on the right of the box found the head of Kyle McFadzean, but his effort looped on top of the netting.

GOAL! Crawley took the lead on 49 minutes with a headed goal from Barnett. He'd been threatening it all game and made the most of a corner from Drury on the left.

Bury 0 Crawley Town 1

Bury substitution on 55 minutes - Shaun Harrad replaced by David Amoo

A goal line scrap ensued on 56 minutes after a dangerous free kick from Steven Schumacher swirled low into the area, giving Bishop and Amoo close-range shots on goal which were both blocked.

Bury yellow card on 59 minutes - Steven Schumacher

Drury and Barnett linked up once more on the hour mark - Drury's free kick found Barnett at the far post whose header floated just wide.

Amoo will wonder how he didn't score on 64 minutes - he made his way into the box, but his shot was blocked by Scott Shearer in the Crawley net. The ball was still heading for goal, until it was headed over the bar by McFadzean.

Bury substitution on 68 minutes - Peter Sweeney replaced by David Worrall

Crawley substitution on 68 minutes - Matt Tubbs replaced by Michael Doughty

Doughty tried his luck from thirty yards on 75 minutes - his strike definitely had the power and it caused Belford to spill the ball to one side, but reacted quickly to stopit rolling over the line.

GOAL! The visitors doubled their lead on 81 minutes - a quick, well-worked move saw Josh Simpson cross from the right to Doughty who was hovering around the penalty spot to fire home.

Bury 0 Crawley Town 2

A rash challenge by Mark Hughes on Michael Doughty in the centre circle saw him sent off with seven minutes remaining - a huge blow for Richie Barker who has only just got him back to match fitness after an injury sustained at Wycombe in August.

Bury red card on 83 minutes - Mark Hughes

Doughty was looking for his second on 88 minutes but a great save from Belford denied him - he beat the Bury backline on his way into the box and sauntered in one-on-one with the Bury keeper only to see his low effort blocked.

Crawley substitution on 90 minutes - David Hunt replaced by Hope Akpan

Crawley substitution on 90 (+2) minutes - Kyle McFadsean replaced by John Dempsey

Time was eventually called on a disastrous afternoon for the Shakers - they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by lower league opposition, but the difference between the two sides was there to see.

Crawley fought for every ball and were dangerous going forward, making it hard for Bury to get into the game. The influential substitutions came too late in the second period, and Crawley extended their lead late on to make a Bury comeback even harder.

Full Time - Bury 0 Crawley Town 2

Attendance - 2,436 (198 visitors)