Bury 0 Chesterfield 3 ANDY Preece is a decent and likeable man but he's fast finding out about the harsher side of football management writes Steve Canavan

Not only did some fans turn against him during last night's LDV Trophy defeat at the hands of Third Division Chesterfield but even his fellow soccer bosses have let him down too.

Preece has been trying for months to bring in a striker on loan but has been consistently foiled by other managers not keeping their word.

Last night however Liverpool reserve John Newby watched the match and Preece is keeping his fingers crossed that the promising youngster will put pen to paper on a short term deal.

But the Bury boss isn't about to start celebrating just yet.

"We've had so many players that we thought we'd got and then we didn't. I just won't get excited about anything until it happens because we've been kicked in the teeth so many times," admitted Preece.

"Some of the things that these clubs do and what happens .... it's very frustrating. I can understand now managers' problems because a lot of people don't want to help you. You find out your friends, I can tell you.

"As for the fans there were a few having a go at me and the ones that moan have every right to moan but there are also fans getting behind me, shouting 'Come on Bury' and 'Andy Preece's Blue and White army' even when we were 3-0 down. That's the sort of thing that really lifts you and I'll be working really hard for them to make sure we stay up."

Preece switched to a 4-4-2 system and handed rare starts to youngsters Lee Connell, Danny Swailes and Jason Jarrett.

But within five minutes plans started to go badly awry as the visitors took the lead through a Marcus Ebdon wonder goal. The midfielder got the ball 30 yards out and hit a shot high into the net, one even Bobby Charlton would have been proud of.

And just six minutes later - in an eerie and depressing repeat of Saturday's early capitulation at Swindon - Bury conceeded another, this time a bad Danny Swailes mistake allowing Lawrie Dudfield, on loan from Leicester, to finish neatly from the edge of the box.

The stunned Shakers battled back but aside from Ady Littlejohn's skilful running, a Lutel James header and a Jason Jarrett shot, they produced nothing of real note.

And before the half was out, Chesterfield had wrapped up the match and progressed to the semi-final stage of the LDV Vans Trophy when Ebdon scored his second from the penalty spot after Paddy Kenny had been harshly adjudged to have fouled Beckett.

Captain Nick Daws, Chris Billy and the highly impressive Nicky Hill all came off the bench at half time and their presence prevented any second half goals being conceded.

Unfortunately, little was created either, though Bury played much better and produced some smart passing moves - something especially hard to do on a quagmire of a pitch.

Chris Armstrong, again in excellent form, came closest to snatching a consolation, missing a cross from Billy at the back post by inches.

Kenny, Littlejohn, Billy, Daws and Danny Swailes were all booked to complete another miserable night for the Shakers.

BURY: Kenny 6, Connell 7, C Swailes 6, D Swailes 5, ARMSTRONG 7, Reid 6, Jarrett 6, James 6, Bhutia 6, Littlejohn 6, Preece 6. Subs: Daws (for Bhutia 45) 6, Billy (for James 45) 6, Hill (for Jarrett 45) 7, Forrest, Barnes.

Att: 1,452.