Dale crashed at home to the plastic mancs due to a dubious penalty decision in the second half. Despite trailing, Dale clawed themselves level, but were punished from the spot.

A warm sunny day at Spotland, saw Dale welcome the plastic mancs from down the road in little old bury, into the hallowed walls. A day of bitter rivalry and name calling was ahead, well it would have been if bury had made some noise!

Dale welcomed back Matt Gilks in goal, and stuck with the same outfield line-up which crashed at home to Kidderminster just a few days earlier.

Dale had the better of the chances throughout, and deserved at least a draw from the game, but the luck was on our bucket shaking friends' side today, as they showed just how jammy they could be. Every bobble went in their favour, every decision went their way. Bitter?! Me?! Nah!

The visitors took the lead when Nelson powered home a header at the back post. It didn't seem to matter that he had climbed all over the Dale defender all the way into next week.

Dale should have already taken the lead though before this, but Garner was at his best (which isn't very good anyway!) to deny the Dale forward line when they broke through.

Dale found a way back into the game though, following a near post cross, which was deflected into his own net by Jamie Stuart! Nightmare!

At the other end Dale almost let slip of their hold on the game, when Griffiths' back header caused problems for Gilks, who redeemed himself, when the bury forward really should have scored.

Dale pushed forward but they were failing to create anything. Paddy went off for Beech, Hockenhull for Evil. Wonder why Simpson didn't take himself off!?

A ball forward was flicked on by Platt, and Connor's volley went straight at the keeper when he should have done better. bury went straight up the other end and got their dubious penalty. It looked from a distance as though the ball was won cleanly and the plastic manc dived, but I would say that! Not a penalty then, bury are cheats! (Hints of sarcasm before you all have a go)

The kick was taken by Cramb and he sent Gillks the wrong way. The library like away end rose and applauded, we almost heard them!

Dale pushed forward in search of that elusive equaliser. Numerous goalmouth scrambles took place, but bury seemingly jammed their way out of every one, with every bobble going their way. You could just tell it wasn't to be Dale's day.

A near post throw in bounced over a defender's head and let Connor in who smashed his volley against the cross bar, and with time running out, Evil unleashed an unstoppable shot that sailed just wide of the angle.

Dale were left wide open to a break away, and bury could have sealed the points, but a great block from Gilks kept the score down.

It just wasn't to be. A bit of pride in the performance, far from convincing, but we matched a poor bury side for long periods, and with the chances we had really should have taken something from the game.

Photo: Action Images

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