In the first competitive match between the two neighbouring sides, Bury emerged victorious over Ramsbottom United in the Macron Cup second round match at Harry Williams Riverside Stadium thanks to a late equaliser and a successful penalty shootout.

Rams manager Steve Wilkes made two changes to his side with Maine Walder and Sam Rigby returning to the starting lineup. Shakers gaffer Dave McNabb made seven changes to the side defeated away at Whickham last week, most notably Sam Ashton. Bury’s goalkeeping coach and a former Rams stopper would make his Bury debut playing in place of the cup-tied Harry Wright.

For much of the opening period it was the hosts that seemed the more likely side. Both sides played on a difficult pitch left sodden by the rain but it was the home side that were able to adjust to the conditions. The quick Rammy wingers Kuda Chingwaro and Luke Sephton harassed the Bury defence while Ashton was called upon to make two saves from two Harvey Whyte free-kicks. In response, Bury’s best effort of the half was a Lewis Gilboy shot that cleared the Ramsbottom crossbar.

Rammy opened the scoring halfway through the first half. A long throw eluded the Bury defence allowing Matt Dudley a header on goal. Ashton appeared to have done enough to save the effort but the rebound fell to Sephton who fired in to give Rammy the lead.

Into the second-half, Bury began with renewed vigour and came very close to equalising, Gilboy with just the goalkeeper to beat managed to lift his shot over the bar from very close range. As the match approached the hour mark the Bury manager gambled on making all five of his available substitutions at once changing half of Bury’s outfield players. The change could have paid instant dividends with Andy Scarisbrick flashing a shot over the bar within seconds of his introduction.

As the second-half ebbed away the Rams could have put the contest beyond doubt, Chingwaro flashing a shot just wide of Ashton’s goal and Dudley thought he had scored when following in another Whyte free kick but the goal was quickly ruled out for offside. Straight from the resulting free-kick Bury went on the attack, once again Gilboy presented with a clear sight of goal somehow missed the target.

With ten minutes to play Bury finally managed to find the back of the net. Rammy failing to clear their lines allowed a Gaz Peet cross to be finished by Andy Briggs, just lifting the ball over the onrushing Kai Calderbank-Park, the goalkeeper who had started the season on the books at Bury.

Bury did not get to enjoy parity for long, however. Sephton breaking through the Shakers defence was brought down by Ashton and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Matt Dudley stepped up to take the spot kick and converted well to regain the lead.

Dudley then could have put the match beyond the visitors, one-on-one with Ashton he dragged his shot wide. Ashton then began his atonement for giving away the penalty by making a fantastic double save keeping out goalbound efforts from Chingwaro and Dudley within seconds of each other before a third effort was deflected onto the Bury bar.

The home side would be made to rue those wasted chances as in the 94th minute Bury equalised once again, captain Tom Moore heading home his first goal for the Shakers from a Reeves free kick. Bury could have won the match outright at the death, a fierce Oli Jepson volley kept out by the feet of Calderbank-Park. The referee’s whistle blew and for the third time this season and twice in two matches Ramsbottom would see a match decided by the penalty shootout.

Kai Calderbank-Park had put in a heroic performance in the shootout last week against Bottesford Town where he made two saves. This time however it was the Bury keeper who would take the plaudits. With Bury having missed an earlier penalty in the shootout Sam Ashton kept the Shakers in the contest saving Dudley’s spot kick. Then as both sides entered sudden death he kept out Ryan Lockett giving Bury a chance to win only for Scarisbrick to miss the target completely with the next effort. Finally, Ashton saved a third penalty, this time from Thomas Walker and the next man up made no mistake. Gaz Peet confidently firing his effort into the top corner to earn Bury’s place in the next round of the Macron Cup.