First half Abo Eisa goal gave Town advantage but performance didn't carry on into the second half
Town: Dean Henderson, Max Lowe, Ben Godfrey, Mat Sadler (Lenell John-Lewis, 85), Omar Beckles, Carlton Morris, James Bolton, Bryn Morris, Abo Eisa (Arthur Gnahoua, 77), Aristote Nsiala and Alex Rodman (Nathan Thomas, 67).
Subs: Craig Macgillivray, Joe Riley, Nathan Thomas, Arthur Gnahoua, Lenell-John Lewis, Luke Hendrie and Sam Jones.
Bury: Joe Murphy, Adam Thompson, Phil Edwards, Zeli Ismail, George Miller (Rohan Ince, 88), Callum Styles, Jay O’Shea, Ryan Cooney (Peter Clarke, 77), Neill Danns, Harry Bunn (James Hanson, 67) and Saul Shotton
Subs: Andrew Tutte, Connor Ripley, Tsun Dai, Rohan Ince, James Hanson, Peter Clarke and Joe Adams.
Referee: Eddie IIderton
Assistants: Ravel Cheosiaua and Anthony Da Costa
Fourth Official: Richard Hulme
Team News:
Town will start in a 343 formation. Omar Beckles returns to the starting 11 in the centre back position, Max Lowe and James Bolton will play as wingbacks.
Sam Jones returns to the bench and Abo Eisa is introduced to the starting line up on the left wing. Shaun Whalley and Jon Nolan aren’t selected for the match day squad. Joe Riley is back in the match day squad on the bench.
Attendance: 5735 (112)
Town’s first half strike was cancelled out as the Shakers take a point back home to Bury as Town draw 1-1.
A first half strike by Abo Eisa gave Town the lead but a second half goal from George Miller meant that both teams had to share the points.
First half:
Dean Henderson was called into action early on in the game, a defensive mistake created an opening for Bury’s George Miller but Town’s keeper got two strong hands to the ball and scooped up the rebound.
Shortly after, a lofted ball found its way to Carlton Morris on the left wing. The striker’s sharp feet put young Saul Shotton off balance and opened up an opportunity to cross, but The Shakers defence remained sealed shut and they cleared their lines.
Great driving play from Alex Rodman and James Bolton earned Town a corner just after the 10-minute mark. Toto Nsiala got a strong header on the ball but put the ball wide.
Just two minutes later Town broke the deadlock. Omar Beckles slipped through a great ball to Abo Eisa but the winger had a lot of work to do before reaching the opposition box. The winger dribbled past three defenders and fired a low hard shot from outside the box into the back of the net, giving Bury keeper Joe Murphy no chance and giving Town the early lead.
Town were dominating the ball and Eisa looked to score a near identical goal in the 20th minute. The winger’s fast feet gave him a yard and he fired off a low driven shot but the Bury defence managed to get a body in the way of the ball.
The Shrews were nearly in again, Max Lowe’s step overs drew a challenge from Zeli Ismail and the left back popped the ball through the wingers legs, but Bury managed to get a foot on the ball and prevented Eisa from letting off another shot.
Town were pilling on the pressure towards the latter stages of the half. Rodman knocked the ball sideways to Bryn Morris, who’s shot stung the palms of Murphy. The Bury defence managed to clear the rebound.
Frustrations were growing for Bury. Ismail was given a yellow card in the 44th minute for brining down Eisa as the winger was driving forward down the left wing.
The half drew to a close with Town dominating the ball and limiting Bury from having any real chance to trouble the one goal advantage that Town got earlier on in the half.
1-0
Second half:
The first 10 minutes of the second half were uneventful, despite Town having the most of possession, but Ben Godfrey had a chance at goal shortly after. The midfielder played a one two pass with Carlton Morris and was through on goal. Godfrey hit the ball towards the net but Bury’s Adam Thompson knocked the ball out for a corner.
Against the run of play, Bury had only their second real chance of the game. Coming in the 64th minute, Bury striker Miller got on the end of a low cross and connected with the ball. Nsiala managed to get his body in the way and pushed the ball out for a corner, which subsequently resulted in nothing.
Just three minutes later Bury got an equaliser. A quickly released free kick and some tidy play from Jay O’Shea gave The Shakers a goal, as the midfielder tricked his way into a yard of space past Nsiala and hit a low shot past Henderson, brining the scores level.
Town were pushing for a winning goal with only 10 minutes remaining in the game. Lowe and Bolton were pushing up the wings but neither player could find a Town head in the box.
Thomas came close again with a low driven volley from outside the box but the midfielder’s shot whistled just past the post.
Gnahoua was given a yellow card for a challenge on Bury captain Neil Danns in the 90th minute.
The game came to an end and the scores remained level as both teams earn a point. Town’s next game is this Tuesday at The Montgomery Waters Meadow against Peterborough United.