Lloyd Kerry scored a consolation goal as Bury ran out deserved winners against a some what lacklustre Spireites at Saltergate.
Lee Richardson brought in Darren Currie for his full debut and new loan keeper Trevor Carson came on to the bench for Dan Whatsize. The Shakers started brightly and if you can take a deserved lead after only three minutes Bury did. Referee Webster gave the Shakers a free kick on the Bury left which was knocked towards the Kop goal and headed back into the danger area by Efe Sodje's for Ben Futcher on the edge of the six yard box. Futcher stuck out a long leg and looped the ball over his head and gave keeper Tommy Lee no chance as it flew into the top right hand corner of the goal.
The Spireites never really got going and hardly got into the Bury half in the opening quarter and things went from bad to worse on sixteen minutes. Talismanic striker Jack Lester left the field with a thigh strain picked up in the warm up to be replaced by Gregor Robertson. Robertson went to the left of midfield and Currie switched to partner Jamie Ward.
Bury were comfortably on top with the Spireites found little no respite from the hard working Shakers midfield and Bury came close to getting a goal when Dave Buchanan crossed the ball into the penalty area looking for the onrushing Elliott Bennett. The Spireite defence was quick to react however, and defender Kevin Austin was able to force the ball away from danger.
A rare Spireite attacking move came on 22 with Darren Currie shooting a yard wide of the
Bury came close to doubling their lead on 25 minutes when The Shakers won another free kick in a similar position to the first goal. Brian Barry-Murphy fired the ball into the crowded penalty area where right back Paul Scott was able to send a glancing header at goal, which forced a superb save low down from Tommy Lee.
The warning wasn't heeded and just one minute later Bury got their deserved second goal when Efe Sodje powered through the
The first half couldn't really finish quickly enough for a sorry looking Spireites but with 5 minutes to go until halftime The Shakers got their third when Michael Jones played a good ball into the six yard box looking for Andy Morrell to side foot home.
The Spireites then had their first real chance of the game on 44 minutes Jamie Lowry cross was nearly found Jamie Ward but Efe Sodje deflect the ball to Darren Currie who went for goal only to see his volley from the edge of the penalty area go a couple of feet over Brown's bar
Halftime: Bury 3-0
The Spireites no doubt with words being exchanged at half-time finally started to show more. Though Bury at 3-0 could afford to defend more deeply and switched Barry-Murphy to play more infront of his centre backs thus this gave the Spireite midfield more time on the ball.
On 53 minutes the Spireites pulled a goal back when the referee played advantage after a clear foul by Buchanan on Lowry the ball came to Lloyd Kerry who stopped the ball with one foot an fired a low drive from the edge of the penalty area with the other, which flew into the bottom left hand corner of the goal to give the Spireites perhaps a lifeline.
Bury came close to regaining their three goal advantage when Dave Buchanan crossed the ball into the penalty area for Ben Futcher, who tried to scramble the ball over the goal line. However, Tommy Lee was quick off his line to gather possession.
A bizarre moment came next with referee Webster the centre of attention Futcher clearly fell on top of the ball in his penalty area from a Ward shot and stopped the ball in the process with an outstretched arm then to compound things he then appeared to trip Ward. No penalty was the verdict from Mr Webster who was only a few yards away.
The Spireites again came close to getting their second just one minute later when Jamie Ward went for goal from the edge of the area, which forced a good diving save from Wayne Brown in the Bury goal. Bury had a chance of their own though on 78 minutes when Richie Baker fired a good shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was well saved by Tommy Lee.
On 79 Bury brought on ex Sheffield United defender Ryan Cresswell upfront for a limping Andrew Morrell and seconds later Elliott Bennett replaced by Danny Racchi
On 84 minutes Aaron Downes came on for an out of sorts Alan Goodall. Downes moving upfront to partner Ward with Robertson who had a good second period in midfield moving to a more accustomed left back slot.
Overall a very disappointing first home game of the season and a game which perhaps asks more questions about the Spireites summer transfer activity and with Jack Lester now injured the players budget looks set to be stretched further with the recruitment of a striker or strikers for next weekends trip to Grimsby.
Fulltime: Chesterfield 1 Bury 3
Chesterfield: Tommy Lee , Phil Picken , Jamie Lowry , Robert Page , Kevin Austin , Jamie Ward , Darren Currie , Paul Harsley , Alan Goodall (Downes 84), Jack Lester (Robertson 16), Lloyd Kerry
Subs: Trevor Carson , Derek Niven , Gregor Robertson , Aaron Downes , Scott Boden
Bury: Wayne Brown, Paul Scott, David Buchanan, Ben Futcher, Stephen Dawson, Glynn Hurst (Baker 56), Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones, Efe Sodje, Andy Morrell (Cresswell 80), Elliott Bennett (Racchi 81)
Subs: Ryan Cresswell, Richie Baker, Danny Racchi, Cameron Belford, Domaine Rouse
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