Accrington Stanley 0 Bury 2

BURY might have won this match but apart from a useful run out for a couple of youth team lads this fixture had nothing to do with football.

Top of the agenda was saving Bury FC from extinction.

And it was fitting that it was Accrington Stanley who organised this money-raising contest as they know only too well what it is like to go bust.

In 1962 with debts of £45,000 they were wound up and forced to drop out of the Football League. Forty years later and now in the Unibond Premier Division, they are still fighting to get league football back.

Stanley chairman Eric Whalley organised this match so that every penny raised could go to the crisis hit Gigg Lane club.

"It's a great gesture by Accrington Stanley which we will never forget," said Shakers chairman Terry Robinson.

"The most important thing is that it has raised awareness. I've had more television interviews in the last few weeks than I did when we got promotion to the First Division which is quite amazing.

"The important thing is to save Bury Football Club and we are going to do that."

More than 1,000 spectators braved the freezing weather to watch an Accrington Stanley side including Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy and former Shaker favourites David Pugh and Mark Carter take on a strong Bury team.

It finished 2-0 to the Shakers, the goals coming in the first half, a Lutel James volley and a glorious Paul Reid 20-yarder.

Stars from past and present pitched in to help Bury's cause. At half time there was a celebrity penalty shoot out featuring former Shakers stars Keith Kennedy, Andy Hill and John Forrest.

Whalley added: "It would be a great shame if another Lancashire club had to drop out of the league but hopefully it won't happen and we are glad to have done a little bit to help."