Shakers have it all to do again after FA Trophy clash is abandoned

Bury’s FA Trophy match against Runcorn Linnets was abandoned at halftime on a wet, miserable and sodden day on Merseyside. A promising first half performance was rendered null and void as the game was called off before the second period began. The Shakers will have to start all over again in the rearranged fixture. Having only booked their spot in this tie in midweek there were six changes to the Bury side. Russ Saunders kept his place in goal while Reece Kendall and Oscar Threlkeld made their first appearances for the Shakers. Gavin Massey having served his suspension would start as would Aaron Chalmers, the club captain returning from a back injury. The hosts started the match the stronger. Bury keeper Saunders was forced into making an early save from Naim Arsan. The Yellows soon took the lead. Capitalising on a counterattack Scott Bakkor beat the Bury offside trap and made no mistake in front of goal placing well into the bottom corner. The first half was a fairly open affair. Regan Riley crossed to Tyler James but the Bury forward’s first effort was saved and the rebound was cleared away. At the other end Bakkor again on the attack blazed a shot over the bar after getting on the end of a pass from the suitably named Matty Rain. After a good spell of pressure the Shakers grabbed an equaliser. A ball sent into the box by James found Kieran Glynn. His effort was denied by goalkeeper Harvey Bardsley. The ball fell perfectly for DJ Pedro to send a looping header over the young keeper and into the back of the net. The rain continued to pour over the APEC Taxis Stadium as both sides pushed for the lead. Gavin Massey tried a shot from the edge of the box forcing a brilliant save from Bardsley while Oscar Threlkeld teed up Pedro to try a similar effort, the deflected shot whizzed just past the post. In response the home side nearly regained the lead from a corner, Saunders doing just enough to tip a goalbound header onto the crossbar before Bakkor blasted the rebound wide of goal. The halftime whistle rang out and fans of both sides huddled tightly under whatever shelter they could find. The rain had turned heavier over 45 minutes and what was a heavy pitch at kick off had completely saturated by the break with standing water at various points on the pitch. All through halftime the downpour continued leaving the conditions unplayable. The referee made the disappointing but correct decision to abandon play before the second half began. Bury will have it all to do again as their FA Trophy journey continues into a fourth match before they’ve even reached the end of September.