A hat-trick from Jermaine Dickinson-Grant was not enough for a youthful Bury side who were defeated 4-3 at home to Chadderton in the Macron Cup second round.

In the Shakers' final cup competition, it was all change in the line-up with most of the squad made up of members of the under-23s side. The lone first-team players were Pat Jarrett who started at 10 and the veteran goalkeeper Russell Saunders who made his home debut between the sticks. In contrast, Chadderton named a near full-strength side with only two changes from their league win on the weekend.

On a freezing cold Monday night Bury were the first to try and heat things up; Papis Touray charged up the Bury right-hand side, his cross was intended for forward Dickinson-Grant but was cut out by Chaddy keeper Morgan Bacon. Touray again the creative spark intercepted a defensive pass and sent in a cross that Dickinson-Grant reached but could not direct his header on target.

At the other end Chadderton midfielder Matty Barlow tried to lob Saunders after claiming the loose ball from a cross but keeper the did well to catch.

Chadderton then took an early lead. A simple ball over the top led to a one-on-one race that top scorer Lewis-Simon Byrne won. He cut inside and curled a shot into the top corner leaving Saunders with no chance.

Byrne could have extended his tally with a free header that went just over the bar while Jack Massey in on goal tried to lift the ball over Saunders but put his chance wide.

With time running short and half-time approaching Touray again intercepted a pass, played in Dickinson-Grant who beat Bacon with a shot to the bottom corner to grab an equaliser for the young Shakers.

Bury could have grabbed a lead with the last action of the first half. A late corner saw centre-back David Oko win a header at the far post but the looping effort landed wide of goal.

Bury’s wait for another goal did not take long after the restart. Coming out on the attack the Shakers quickly took the lead, Dickinson had a pass intended for Mason Beard blocked so claiming the loose ball for himself he took a long-range shot Bacon didn’t expect and found the back of the net for his second goal of the evening.

Five minutes later Dickinson had his hat-trick. Following great play down the right between Papis Touray and full-back Prindi Kimputu Touray sent in a cross that fell at the feet of Bury’s number 9 who poked the ball past Bacon to make it 3-1.

The sleet of the first half had long given way to snow as the temperature dropped further and turned the pitch white. On a now slippery surface, defending became difficult and attacks became more opportunistic. From a Bury free-kick Beard pulled the ball back to Tye Turner. His shot on goal was saved by Bacon.

Chadderton claimed a goal back on the hour. A cross from the right beat the defence and Chadderton substitute Wisdom Bernard poked home at the far post as he slipped to meet the pass.

Soon afterwards Chadderton had the equaliser. The Bury defence were not able to clear their lines and the loose ball fell to Barlow to rifle past substitute keeper Liam Sergent.

With around 15 minutes remaining Chadderton retook the lead. On the attack again the visitors took advantage of a wavering side sapped of energy. Chadderton found themselves with an extra man over on the right and Robert Flynn slammed the ball into the far corner beyond Sergent’s reach.

There might have been more goals, Byrne tried his luck from the halfway line spotting Sergent out of his goal but his chance was off target while Bury pushed in vain for another equaliser that might have taken the contest to a penalty shootout but never got close to breaching Bacon’s goal again.

The full-time whistle sounded and all involved quickly went in search of the nearest warm and dry shelter except for Dickinson-Grant who claimed the match ball. Bury’s young charges could hold their heads high for putting in a brave performance against one of the best sides in the North West Counties. While attention now turns to the first team’s league campaign it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of the players representing Bury this evening turning out in the first team again before too long.