There’s something gloriously Rovers about trying unsuccessfully to score for 90 minutes, before finding the back of the net the one time you don’t intend to. The length of time Harry Forrester had to spend protesting his innocence to Bury’s players, after his punt back to Christian Walton had sailed over the ‘keeper’s head, really belied Rovers ineffectuality in the final third to that point.
Leon Clarke would’ve certainly been grateful of the freedom to walk in the unopposed equaliser which followed given that up to that point he’d done everything but score. The focal point of Bury’s attack, Clarke twice rattled the woodwork and had also been prevented opening the scoring by a couple of excellent Thorsten Stuckmann saves.
Bury enjoyed the better of the game’s chances as Rovers too easily succumbed to their pace on the break. Yet, aside from Clarke’s stroll over the line, the Shakers only found a way past Stuckmann once, and on that occasion the acrobatics of Andy Butler on the line – sprawling to toe a shot onto the post – kept it goalless.
Rovers could count themselves unlucky not to have a penalty in the second-half as Nathan Tyson tumbled in chase of a long ball, but truth be told they struggled to get going. By no means terrible, but performing as if the new season had begun three weeks too soon for them; too often short of fluidity and purpose and left punting balls in the vague direction of the invisible Curtis Main.
popular STAND fanzine 