A first home defeat in over a year saw Bury crash out of the FA Cup. Beaten 2-0 by Stalybridge Celtic in the Preliminary round replay the loss lays bare the levels the Shakers will need to match to be a success this season.

Offering a change in shape and personnel from the previously drawn match Bury seemed to get it all wrong and spent large portions of the first half desperately defending their own goal. Callum Spooner lost a simple ball requiring Aiden Walker to race across and block a goal-bound Liam Tongue effort. This was then followed by a Celts free-kick that required a brilliant double save from Mitch Allen to keep the rampant visitors at bay.

When Jack Byrne connected to a long throw his looping header beat everyone except for Allen who tipped the ball over his bar at full stretch.

Bury had little to offer in response, few chances were created. Kai Evans slipped the ball to DJ Pedro who forced a good save out of Celts keeper Charlie Monks but he had already been flagged offside.

It took until the half hour mark for Bury to stem the tide of Stalybridge attacks and start to grow into the match. A Pedro throw in found Isherwood, his header had to be hooked away before it found the bottom corner while Pedro had a great shot well saved by Monks after Walker sent a header back across the busy Celtic penalty area. Evans then attempted to catch the keeper out with a long range shot. Monks spilled the initial effort but hung on at the second attempt.

Just as it looked as though the Shakers worm had turned the away side took a deserved lead. Promotion winner Ruben Jerome returning to Gigg Lane for the first time since his summer move flicked an overhead kick that beat Allen and found the bottom corner of the goal mere moments before half-time.

The Bury manager’s feelings could not have been made more clear as a quadruple substitution was made at the break altering the entire look of the team. The shape was changed to 4-2-4 and resulted in a far more attacking side .

Rustam Stepans lead the charge. His attack down the left nearly yielded a goal as the ball flashed across Monk’s penalty area. Sub Kieran Glynn sent a cross to Pedro that was put out for a corner.

Bury could build an attack, earn a corner and send in a cross but the final key pass or a clear sight of goal never materialised. Aaron Chalmers headed a good chance over the bar from one corner Stalybridge didn’t manage to clear away.

It seemed destined to not be Bury’s night. This appeared to be confirmed by a late penalty awarded to the visitors. A dubious call that Stalybridge hadn’t appealed for. Aiden Walker looked to have won the ball cleanly but the referee pointed to the spot and produced a second yellow card to the already booked Bury man. A measure of justice was attained when the overworked Mitch Allen saved the spot kick.

The result however was put beyond doubt when Stalybridge’s Benni Smales-Braithwaite drifted through the Walker shaped gap in the Bury defence and after having been denied by another great save by Allen forced through the rebound to secure the win and book their place in the next round of the cup.

Bury are left to lick their wounds and plan for next time. The third meeting of these two clubs in ten days comes quickly on Bank Holiday Monday.