The Shakers seem to have lost all confidence and were unable to produce any sign of the early season good football which was so impressive. Bury failed to create a single chance in the whole game and the visitors keeper had only a Nick Daws free kick to gather in an otherwise untroubled evening.

The Royals deadly strikeforce of Jamie Cureton and Martin Butler sunk the home side with a goal a piece early in the second half, and though they tried hard, Bury never looked likely to redeem the situation.Manager Andy Preece has a good deal of thinking to do before the weekend visit to Wigan.

by Paul Forrest
as supplied to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Shakers Team: Patrick Kenny, Chris Swailes, Steve Redmond, Sam Collins, Lee Unsworth, Chris Billy, Paul Reid, Nick Daws, Dean Barrick*, Adrian Littlejohn**, Andy Preece.