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 Match Report
Bury 1 Crewe Alexandra 2
Worthington Cup Round 1 Leg 2
Tuesday 5th September 2000
If Bury had converted just a fraction of the many goalscoring chances they created at Gigg Lane this evening they would be in the draw for the second round of the cup. But instead the Shakers tumble out of a competition both games of which they have looked the superior side against opposition from a higher division and it is difficult to blame anyone but themselves. However, even considering the potential financial windfall which has eluded the club as a result of the defeat, the most prominent impression made on the meagre 2,000 crowd who saw the game is strangely comforting, because, for what difference it makes, Bury played well.
There were only six minutes gone when, following a neat, flowing move on the edge of the Crewe box, Baichung Bhutia was sent tumbling by Efe Sodje just inside the area and gifted Bury an early opportunity from the spot. Darren Bullock, in the ascendency at Gigg Lane for the past few weeks, eventually emerged from a host of eager Shakers' players to take the kick, and score low to Jason Kearton's right even though the Australian 'keeper was close to making the save. It gave Bury a dream start, and handed them the overall lead of a tie which, at kick-off had been balanced at 2-2 after Alex levelled with only four minutes remaining at Gresty Road in the first leg.
Parity was restored seven minutes later though when Mark Rivers converted the visitors' first shot on target into the equaliser. Kevin Street crafted the opportunity, beating Steve Redmond to a through ball before sending an inviting cross to the back post which Rivers, unmarked and with time to compose himself, met with a diving header past Kenny. The First Division side would make it 2-1 shortly after the break too, when Colin Little pounced on a Matt Barrass slip to fire into the roof of the net and put Crewe ahead on aggregate for the first time in the tie.
What followed was a whole 40 minutes' worth of edge of your seat attacking action as Bury pushed forward for a vital goal making a poorly attended game a really entertaining encounter. On 69 minutes Baichung Bhutia clipped a delightful shot with the outside of his boot just past the post from the edge of the area, and then with a clever backheel set up Adrian Littlejohn who fired straight at Kearton. Darren Bullock dragged a shot agonisingly wide late on as time ran out on Bury who just could not find the net.
by Ben Walker
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