Ilkeston Town, Sat 29th Aug, 3:00PM (H)
Bury were left to wonder what might have been after spurning a hatful of chances only to fall to a 1-0 defeat at home to Lancaster City.
There were three changes in the Bury lineup as Connor Pye, Luca Navarro and Mo Touray all made starts. Anthony Dudley was named on the bench for the first time after recovering from an injury in preseason.
Kai Evans gave the Shakers a positive start with an early shot from the right forcing a save from keeper Brad Kelly while an Evans cross took a deflection that saw the ball pass just behind oncoming Bury attackers.
It was the visitors however who got the early goal. Steven Yawson allowed the push forward on a long mazy run, eluded the defence, rounded keeper Mitch Allen and finished into the back of the net for a great goal.
The hosts looked to find a way back into the match. Luca Navarro sent over a cross that Dolly Blues keeper Kelly had to hook away for a corner. Bury found that they could get into the Lancaster box but were crowded out when they arrived and were never offered a clear sight of goal.
Mo Touray had the best chance of the first half. Starting the counterattack Touray laid the ball off to Navarro and then to Connor Pye. A cross into the box fell to Touray who saw his first shot blocked, then his second effort hit the post and land perfectly into the arms of the previously stranded Kelly.
Touray then tried a turn as provider laying the ball off to George Glendon who fired a low stinging shot that the busy Kelly did well to tip away. Just before the break a Kai Evans cross found DJ Pedro who saw his header pass over the crossbar.
After the break there was more close calls for the home side as Connor Pye played in Pedro. Despite being closely marked by two defenders the Bury striker managed to fire off a shot that beat Kelly but rattled the woodwork where the post and crossbar met.
Lancaster nearly doubled Bury’s problems with another counter attack. This time Mitch Allen did well to save a close range effort with his legs. Lancaster City didn’t look close to scoring another after that but the one goal advantage didn’t produce anxiety for the away side, only frustration for the hosts.
Owen Robinson was brought on and so nearly levelled the tie, played in by Touray, who had seen his own long range shot saved, Robinson shot towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box only to see it just creep wide.
Attacking options on the bench in Anthony Dudley, Tom Carr and Jes Uchegbulam were brought on but despite the numbers no one could unlock the Dolly Blue defence. Corners and set pieces never found a man a white. Defender James Neild tried his luck from the edge of the box but couldn’t find enough power behind his shot while Jes Uchegbulam had a chance from a tight angle saved by Kelly.
Most crushing of all DJ Pedro tried a shot from 25 yards and hit the post again, the third time the frame of the goal had denied the Shakers who did everything but score in this match and paid the price for it.
The referee’s whistle ended a disappointing evening for Bury. A lack of ruthlessness in front of goal cost dearly for the Shakers who have lost back to back midweek matches.
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