Honours even after a real old fashioned, game of 2 halves at Spotland.

In the first half only one side was going to win and in the second, ditto. Manager Keith Hill was for once almost scathing in his criticism of his side for their first 45 minutes when they lacked any form of cohension or confidence but after the break with youngster Will Buckley terrorising a previously untested Bury rearguard we had a real game on our hands.

Bury took the lead early on courtesy of a rare Sam Russell error before Buckley won 2 penalties , one missed by Chris Dagnall the other thumped home by Adam le Fondre.

Keith made farly sweeping changes to the side rewarding Buckley for a terrific midweek Reserve showing and re uniting Messrs le Fondre and Dagnall up front but it was Bury, with the confidence of their 100 % start behind them who completely bossed matters virtually from the off

It was The Shakers who got their noses in front after just 7 minutes when Russell, surrounded by a crowd scene on his goal line punched an inswinging Brian Barry Murphy corner into his own net.

The keeper though made amends to deny Andy Bishop with a good save on 19 minutes and an even better 7 minutes before the break when a rare slip by Rory McArdle let Bishop through on goal.

Right from the off in the second half Dale looked better and more positive and might have equalised on 51 minutes when Le Fondre headed wide when a Tom Kennedy cross left him virtually un marked in the box.

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