Both sides named unchanged starting line-ups for the Gigg Lane clash. Chesterfield brought Alan Goodall to the bench for the first time this season, for Kevin Austin.

With a minute on the clock Bury threatened first, when Dawson drove narrowly wide. Playing into the wind, the Shakers dropped balls in behind the visitors' defence where they stalled, causing problems to the home defence. Creswell's glancing header on 9 flew wide, but the Spireites gave as good as they got in the opening phase, with Djilali, Lester and Small scheming up front.

Cresswell was put under pressure and sent a header narrowly wide of his own goal to present Chesterfield with their first corner and picking up an injury in the process. Cresswell was unable to continue and was stretchered off, to be replaced on 15 by Ben Futcher. Perkins took the corner and Brown knocked it behind for another corner. This was taken short to Djilali, who whipped in a cross, but it was cleared.

Chesterfield won another corner when Lester saw a shot blocked on 24. Perkins' delivery was glanced away by a defender but Djilali recovered possession and crossed, a little too deep on this occasion.

Both sides contributed to an open game, although chances were at a premium. Racchi and Nardiello looked dangerous going forward on 37 but the Spireite full-backs were resolute. A peculiar error gave Chesterfield an indirect free kick in the box under the "backpass" rule, on 41. A touch to Perkins drew a powerful shot but the effort was blocked. Brown caught well under pressure from Small after a flowing Chesterfield move on 43.

Bury won their first corner in the last minute of first-half injury time. Breckin met the ball with his head as the halftime whistle went.

Halftime: 0-0. Attendance: 2504.(397 from Chesterfield.)

Bury started the second half the brighter of the sides. A chance came to Barry-Murphy on 48 after Page gave away a free kick near the edge of the box, but the ex-Owl scuffed a shot wide from eight yards. A Lester drive from the edge of the area on 55 went out off the back of Sodje.

Morrell gave Bury the lead on 56, getting in front of Lee to connect with a long ball in from Newey.

Djilai was brought down by Sodje on the hour, being yellow-carded, but the free kick was wasted when the offside flag ended the move. Jones didn't make contact with a shot on 62 but Newey did, forcing Lee to scamper across the goal.

Bury won a corner on 67 after a quick break down the wing, and won another on 70. Page cleared the corner to halfway but it was returned to the head of Sodje. Lee did well to save but Morrell got his second goal of the game, pouncing on the rebound to convert from close range.

Boden replaced Lester and Niven replaced Perkins on 72.

Bury brought Worrall on for Racchi after 78 minutes. Boden did well to control a pass from Small on 80 but shot over. Nardiello was replaced by Baker with seven minutes left. Boden's run and shot on 88 forced a decent save, at the expense of a corner. Page knocked the flag kick down and WADE SMALL was on hand for the tap in when the ball came loose from a goalmouth scrimmage. Suddenly, the visitors began to press; Djalali made a great run and the ball came to Niven, but the ball was blocked. Ultimately, though, it was far too late to force a revivial.