Chesterfield made two changes - three, including the broken-down bus on the way there - for the match at Gigg Lane.Jamie Lowry and Lewis Montrose came in to the side for Alan Goodall and the injured Jamie Winter. There was no place for Clayton McDonald, who returns to Manchester City with the end of his moth's loan. With the match at nearby Accrington falling foul of the weather the Gigg Lane pitch looked likely to cut up quickly.

With seventy seconds on the clock an unmarked AARON DOWNES was found with a Lester flick-on from a Gray long-throw, and the young Aussie thumped the ball past the goalie to open the scoring!

A god ball by Morrell nearly let Jones in, but Downes came up with a fine tackle to deny him on 4.

Both sides went at it in an entertainingly open first portion of the game. Chesterfield won their first corner on 10 and Lowry took it, but Montrose was judged to have pushed Sodje. Montrose won the ball on 13 and found Lester; Sodje committed himself and left Gritton unattended but Lester went for goal himself, unsuccessfully. Kerry and Lester exchanged passes and the midfielder shot as the play opened up for him, but the offside flag helped conceal a rather wasteful finish.

Hall was judged to have pushed Morrell on 22, giving The Shakers a free kick that they wasted when its poor execution allowed Talbot to cut out. A Bury corner on 28 led to a scramble that was put over the bar for a goal-kick. A neat move between Montrose, Lester and Gritton on 36 allowed the ex-Macc man a shot that whistled just past the post.

Hall's recovery play under Sodje's pressure saw Bury win their third corner of the half, on 37. His kick came through to Creswell on the back stick but a defender came in with a crucial touch, at the expense of another corner; Barry-Murphy took this and Sodje came in with his head, but a combination of post and defenders saw the ball scrambled away off the line.

Chesterfield increased their lead through JACK LESTER on 40; getting the ball on the edge of the area he turned this way and that before crashing a shot past Taylor and into the net to extend Chesterfield's lead in fine style.

Gregor Robertson was sent off on 41 for a late challenge on Bennett; with the player going away from goal the decision looked harsh and perhaps owed a little to the moaning that home supporters were directing at the referee. Robertson and his ex-boss Alan Knill exchanged pleasantries as he left the field and stewards seemed to take up a position in front of Chesterfield's dug-out. Morrell broke into the box on the stroke of halftime but Lowry came in to clear as Lee restricted the forward's options. The Shakers won a corner in stoppage time, which Jones took, and Lee punched away.

Halftime: 2-0 to Chesterfield.

Chesterfield brought Kevin Austin on before the second half started, Martin Gritton being the man understandably sacrificed. Bishop spun off Downes on 47 and looked for Morrell, who was in an offside position. Bury piled pressure on as Chesterfield seemed happy just to batten down the hatches. Creswell put a header over from the Shakers' first corner of the second half, on 51. Bury's players and management were in the ear of the referee throughout.

Jones broke into Chesterfield's box on 58 and Gray came in with a challenge which gave away a penalty, which Bishop scored. Gray went in to the referee's notebook for the challenge. Jones was late on Kerry on 65 but no action was taken as the rain pelted down. Jones shot wastefully wide on 66 after Gray was caught out. Downes came in to clear from one yard on 67 as the pressure mounted down our right. Morrell had a great chance to equalise but Lee's work forced the forward to shoot early and find the side netting.

Derek Niven came on for Montrose on 74. Bury replaced Morrell with Glynn Hurst at the same time. Bishop was left in space but his shot hit Downes. Bury threw men forward as the game entered its last fifteen. Baker shot from a distance and over the bar on 78. The pressure seemed relentless, without even a free kick for a foul on out lone forward to release the tension. Drew Talbot broke into the box and was brought down when through on goal; the referee unaccountably saw it as a dive, and what should have been a pen and a red for the Bury man became a yellow card for the clearly-fouled Spireite! Bury came up the field and were granted a free kick on the edge of the "D" which was blasted over. Talbot got into the box but shot wide.

Hall's clearance with two minutes left gave Bury only their second corner of the half; Downes got the first ball away and Lee collected the return at the second attempt. As the game entered stoppage time Bishop shot aimlessly over. Lester was booked for dissent, despite being fouled by Sodje. Jones shot agonisingly wide on 92. Downes was judged to have fouled Bishop halfway in the Spireites' half; from the kick Sodje headed over the bar.Ultimately, a performance of great determination against the odds finished in the Spireites' favour.

Attendance: 2077 (169 visiting fans)