Auto Windscreens Shield Northern Section First round

Mansfield Town 2, Bury 1

CHRISTMAS is coming and Bury must be praying for a few presents. There always have to be losers - but does it always have to be the Shakers?

That's how it felt as Bury crashed out of their second cup competition in the space of seven days - this time to a Golden Goal that deserved to win them a Golden Gaff award.

Goalkeeper Pat Kenny lined his defensive wall up in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first period of extra time, but left a gap plenty big enough for Mansfield substitute Andy Roscoe to sneakily bend a low shot in on the near post.

It left Bury's caretaker-boss Andy Preece a not-so-happy man. "Paddy lined his wall up and their lad has been able to bend the ball five yards inside the near post," said Preece.

"It's up to Paddy to line the wall up so that the lad can't bend it round. Paddy's got to learn. He's been in the side long enough now. You could see how much he had left off that side of the wall."

Kenny wasn't the only Bury player at fault on the night. Goalscoring chances were missed by the barrowload by both sides, with veteran striker Paul Barnes the biggest culprit.

His worst boob came in the 11th minute of extra time when he drew the keeper wide off his line, but delayed a cross into the box too long, allowing Ian Bowling to dash back between the sticks and the Mansfield cover to arrive before finally passing . . . to a MANSFIELD player! Ian Lawson hit a post a minute into the second half and Kemajl Avdiu livened things up when he replaced Lawson in the 65th minute.

But the bottom line is none of the chances went in, Bury are out of the Auto Windscreens Shield and a possible trip to Wembley is not on the cards anymore.

Turning to the missed goal opportunities, Preece added: "We had so many chances, including one-on-ones, I hate to think. We have just got to start putting our chances away. The game would have been over long before extra time if we had."

Barnes missed at least two good goal-scoring opportunities in the league at Gillingham last Saturday. He was at it again last night and Preece said: "Barnesy has said 'That's two games I've let you down in.' He could have had five goals in the last two games. He's having one of those spells. They're not going in for him."

Preece added: "We played football and opened them up, but let's not kid ourselves, Mansfield are near the bottom of the Third Division and we are in the Second and were in the First Division last season. There can be no excuses.

"I know what we will be doing at training on Thursday - practising finishing.

"You make your own luck and we have got to start getting results in place of those missed chances."

Mansfield went in front in the 41st minute when Paul "Charlie" Williams was judged to have brought namesake Lee Williams down on the right hand-side of the penalty box, close to the by-line. Paul Williams was also booked for his pains and Tony Lormor stepped up to fire in a low shot from the spot that beat Kenny on his right-hand side.

"The lad brushed against Charlie's leg. Mansfield are the home side. Penalty. That's it," said Preece.

Bury got their first little bit of luck when Darren Bullock smashed in an equaliser after a Nicky Daws free-kick was only half-cleared into his path some 15 yards out on the left-hand side of the danger zone.

That was it though. Despite Avdiu's efforts, Bury simply couldn't come up with the killer goals . . . again.

One bright spot was the performance of youngster Matt Barrass at right back. He's alert, likes to pass and get forward and generally looks a great prospect.

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