They’ll be no cup final day for Bury this season as they were knocked out the Manchester Premier Cup at the Quarter Final stage, a 2-1 defeat away to Curzon Ashton.

Tim Lees named eight changes to the side from the weekend as he followed through on his promise to give fringe players a run out. Josh Ashe would make his Bury debut at right back while the captain’s armband was handed to keeper Russ Saunders.

The match was quite open in the early stages, Rustam Stepans played through by Mo Touray stung the Nash keeper’s hands with an early effort while the home side had the ball in the net but Brad Holmes was in an offside position. Tony Weston had a great chance to score but blazed wide when clean through on goal while at the other end Regan Riley’s deflected shot had the Curzon Ashton keeper at full stretch.

As the first half continued Bury became the more dominant side. Stepans had a lob cleared off the line, the pressure from the Shakers soon won the ball back and Kai Evans was played through to shoot but his effort was off target. Bailey Sloane from left back went on a mazy run before unleashing a thumping effort that Callum Hawkins in the Nash goal saved well.

Eventually the pressure told and Bury took the lead. A cross from the left by Evans found Touray who controlled the ball and sent an effort low to the bottom corner for his first Bury goal just before halftime.

After the break the Shakers looked to extent their lead. Evans had the pick of the chances. His curling effort from the left had Hawkins beaten but it crashed off the crossbar. Ryan Atkinson very nearly stole the ball off the foot of the Curzon Ashton keeper, Stepans would win the loose ball that came from it but missed the target with his shot.

These early Bury chances however began to dry up as the National League North side took control of the match. Ben Darby had a shot blocked by the defence while Saunders was called upon to make a brilliant save from a close range effort from Harry Olufowobi before saving a header well from another corner from the home side.

The equaliser was coming and it arrived on the hour. Jimmy Spencer robbing the Bury defence and playing in Tony Weston to tap home from barely a yard out.

Weston nearly had a second goal when played through one on one but Saunders again pulled off a brilliant save the deny the Nash forward.

The visitors pushed for a way back into the match but found chances harder to come by. Touray burst through the centre of the pitch with a thunderous run before being felled in the box. The hosts rushed up the other end and were also denied a penalty appeal when Spencer went down under pressure from the Bury defence.

With only minutes until the shootout loomed the home side took the lead. The Shakers were caught napping on a short taken corner. Jordan Richards crossed into the box and Ben Darby headed into the top corner.

There was one final attack from Bury to try and salvage a draw. Youth player Gerry McCullion ran the play out to the right wing setting up Josh Ashe to cross into the box. Cam Fogerty got his head to the ball but it sailed harmlessly over the bar. The defeat end Bury’s run in the Frank Hannah Cup for another season.