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It didn’t take long for the Blues to have to shuffle their starting line-up. On seven minutes Andy Hardman went down awkwardly following a strong but fair challenge from Russell Hitchen and the young striker spent three minutes limping around with a hip injury until he was replaced by Bainbridge, who came on to the pitch to find United had gone 1-0 down.
A free-kick was hit into the United box by David Buchanan and ex-Carlisle striker Allan Smart got his head on the ball to send it looping into the air on the six-yard line. A hesistant Keiran Westwood could only partially clear to Dale Stevens who drilled the ball home through Simon Grand on the line and into the roof of the net from ten yards out to put the Shakers 1-0 up after nine minutes. It was the first of many dodgy decisions by Westwood who didn’t have the best of nights as he struggled to make his mind up on a lot of crosses and long balls into his box.
Only four minutes later though the Blues drew level. Peter Murphy played an excellent ball over the top which Bainbridge beat the offside trap to run on to and the Carlisle-based forward slotted home well from the edge of the box into the far bottom corner.
Injury problems deepened for United in the 22nd minute as David Beharall, just coming back from injury, was the victim of a bad challenge from Stevens who caught the United full-back on the ankle with a flying challenge that would surely have seen yellow if referee Haines had actually been watching the incident. Beherall hobbled off a minute later to be replaced by Martin Graham.
United then had their traditional glut of play and pressure that came up empty as far as goals were concerned. Glenn Murray smashed a shot against the post on 27 minutes after an excellent turn and run from the centre-circle, Bainbridge just being unable to turn home the rebound. Bainbridge headed over the bar twice in a three-minute spell on the half-hour mark from areas where he should have been getting the ball on target and making the keeper work at least.
Peter Murphy and the outstanding Simon Hackney hit excellent crosses into the Bury box all night and it was Glenn Murray who headed a good chance from one of the crosses straight at Shakers keeper Craig Dootson right on half-time.
United were very dangerous down the left-hand side for the full 90 minutes, Hackney murdered Bury right-back, and son of their first-team boss Graham Barrow, James Barrow throughout and sent in some cracking centres which were generally missed or wasted by the United frontline. Hackney was ably assisted by Murphy who got forward to support well and looked to be playing in second gear despite looking a class above the Bury youngsters on the right.
The Blues finally took the lead in the 52nd minute through Teesider Lumsdon who is just returning from a double hernia operation. A long ball out from Westwood reached Hackney on the left. The diminutive winger swung in a superb left-footed cross which was met by the head of the onrushing Lumsdon whose header rocketed into the bottom corner of the Bury net.
Another good spell of pressure followed for United who left the Shakers chasing shadows in mdifield for most of the game. Glenn Murray hit a long-range strike straight at Dootson and Jamie McClen hit a shot over the bar as the Blues continued to boss the game.
On 71 minutes both Hackney and Barrow entered the referee’s notebook. Hackney caught the full-back late and the Bury man reacted by pushing Hackney in the chest, referee Haines booking Hackney for the foul and Barrow for retaliation.
The Blues had yet more chances late on as in the 81st minute Bainbridge turned well on the edge of the box and saw his left-foot shot deflected across goal and behind for a corner. From the resultant set-piece Hackney delivered a lovely ball into the box which McClen flicked on at the near-post but Dan Kirkup just couldn’t connect properly with the ball at the back-stick.
So all in all an easy three points for the second string. A man-of-the-match performance from Simon Hackney who I think the majority of fans would love to see start on the left instead of Simmo against Macclesfield and a strong running performance from Glenn Murray also leaves the boss with a decision to ponder about who will take the place of Derek Holmes upfront.
United : Keiran Westwood, David Beherall (Martin Graham 22), Peter Murphy, Dan Kirkup, Simon Grand, Jamie McClen, Pete Ferris (Paul Gardiner 80), Chris Lumsdon, Glenn Murray, Andy Hardman (Rob Bainbridge 10), Simon Hackney.
Subs not used : Matty Bell and Adam Bradley.
Bury : Craig Dootson, James Barrow, Andy Parrish, Jake Sedgemore, Russell Hitchen, Colin Woodthorpe, Dale Stevens (Kane Bentley 60), David Buchanan, Nicky Adams, Allan Smart, Tom Youngs (Steve Burke 65).
Subs not used : Vassos Theophanous, Aaron Grundy and Keith Wedge.