Referee denies Shakers

"THERE are none so blind as those who will not see" - those words may come from an obscure mid-14th century French proverb but they had a real resonance at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The myopic reference was directed at referee Colin Webster who denied the Shakers at least a point with a series of woeful decisions.

It can be too easy at times for managers and players to blame the man in black for results that go against them but anyone who witnessed Saturday's game couldn't help but feel sympathy for Shakers boss Andy Preece.

The Bury manager was justifiably angry that so many crucial nods went against his team but was still ready to admit that his charges weren't at their best especially in the first half.

Most blatant of Mr Webster's clangers was a crystal clear first half handball by Rangers' Aziz Ben Askar that was committed right in front of the County Durham official.

By that time Michael Nelson had already put the Shakers a goal up with a fourth minute deflected header from a Sam Collins speciality long throw.

Another goal then - seven minutes into the game - would probably have knocked the stuffing out of the Londoners who were fortunate not to have their deficit doubled seconds later when skipper Paul Reid rattled the crossbar with a terrific left foot piledriver.

But gradually the visitors weathered the storm and, curiously, the Gigg Lane men failed to capitalise on their early advantage.

Former Wrexham favourite Karl Connolly was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Bury defence and he was inches wide of restoring parity with an angled drive that flew narrowly wide.

Ian Holloway's team got back on level terms just before the half hour and once again Mr Webster didn't endear himself to the locals.

Andy Thompson - goal hero of Rangers' 1-0 victory over Stoke City last week - looked yards offside when the ball broke to him with only Kenny to beat.

As he tried to go round the Bury 'keeper he was unceremoniously hauled to the ground and the official had no hesistation but to point to the spot.

With the 800 travelling Londoners behind Kenny's goal baying for a red card Mr Webster showed mercy and brandished a yellow.

But relief turned to disappointment for the fans at the other end when Thompson dusted himself down, strolled up, and calmly slotted home the spot kick.

Both goals enjoyed narrow escapes later in the half with Kenny on hand to palm away a stinging drive from Steve Palmer and Reid sidefooting wide of the goal after great work from the impressive Jon Newby.

It wasn't just the performance of the referee that angered Preece at the interval and he let it be known he was far from happy with a sloppy first half display.

The players heeded the boss's words in the second period and Rangers found possession much harder to come by than before the break.

And in Jon Newby the Shakers still had the most dangerous man on the pitch. Twice in the space of seven minutes he raced clear of the visitors' defence, the first time he was clearly shoved in the back (clear to everyone except Mr Webster that is!) and the second time he rushed his attempted lob wide of goal with 'keeper Chris Day in no mans land.

The top hat was put on a miserable afternoon after 67 minutes when Collins was pulled up for a foul on former Crewe favourite Marcus Bignot.

The big Yorkshireman maintained he played the ball - a good point seeing as it ended up 20 yards from the incident - but Mr Webster awarded a free kick just outside the box.

Up stepped full back Peter Bruce - who by his own manager's admission hadn't enjoyed a very good afternoon until then - to curl an exquisite left footed strike just inside the post with Kenny nowhere.

Though Bury threw men forward in search of a point they found clear cut chances minimal.

Former RAF serviceman Gareth Seddon, a second half replacement for the injured Baichung Bhutia, flashed a half chance just wide of the post and Collins saw a header from a Reid corner drift wide in the final minutes.

Six minutes of added time only compounded the misery for the Bury faithful who have experienced the highs and lows that soccer can bring in the space of the season's first week.

But Rovers boss Holloway had some words of comfort for the Bury camp and was well aware his side had been lucky to head south with a full complement of points.

"I think we had one shot in the second half and scored from it - I'm not happy with that but that's life!" he said.

"The pleasing thing for me is that we scored from two set pieces but we can do a lot better than that in general play so that's disappointing.

"Bury don't let you sleep for a second you know you are in for a game coming here and I'm just pleased my lads were up to the test. . . but only just.

"Andy Preece has a stronger side here than he had last season and I believe they will be there or thereabouts at the death so I must be ecstatic with the result."