Firstly, I need to apologise for the lack of information over the last week and a bit. Its amazing what a bad illness will do as far as lack of enthusiasm goes and to be honest, I couldnt pull myself off the bed let alone type. Anyway! Enough of this, to the match!
This was always going to be a tough game, Exeter are looking pretty good this season and dont lose too many at all and even with Burys good form of late, nobody expected this to be anything other than a closely fought match.
The Exeter keeper tried to make sure that it was anything but that though in the opening minutes when for some reason he decided to go stepping outside his area while holding the ball, he got a yellow card for his trouble and Bury got a free kick which didnt cause anyone any problems.
There were a few half chances as such but nothing really seriously classable as a real chance until the 20th minute, Exeter coming close from a corner conceded by Parrish when Basham got on the end of a nice ball into the box but he flashed the ball wide of the left stick.
That brought the game to life a little and Bury got their first good chance of the afternoon on 24 minutes, Mangan having found a little bit of room on the right crossed the ball into the area to Bishop who was being well marked and put a header wide.
On 30 minutes Bishop was in the Exeter penalty area with the ball again and another chance was beckoning, but great defending from Seabourne put paid to that.
On 34 minutes Bishop turned provider, crossing low into the box, Buchanan got on the end of it and pulled off a nice shot at goal but the Exeter keeper was more than able to deal with it, a good save.
Just before halftime Exeters Mackie got off a shot at goal from the edge of the area but it went wide.
The second half got off a to a pretty slow start, the only shot of note in the first 20 minutes really being from Mangan for Bury but it went wide.
After 65 minutes Bishop turned provider again, a nice cross into the box for on loan Hughes but he put the ball into the side netting.
6 minutes later Exeter finally made Provett make a save, Taylor with a screamer which produced a decent save.
It was beginning to look a sure fire bet for a replay which wasnt really appealing at all, but Adams had other ideas and finally, in the 79th minute, the deadlock was broken, has to be said that this was mainly down to to a great long range effort from Woodthorpe which the keeper didnt deal with and didnt hold, Adams in the right place at the right time, and one nil to Bury.
Bish should really have made it safe 5 minutes later but his header wasnt the best and the Exeter keeper dealt with it easily.
Moment of the match though was in the 85th minute, Logan with a bullet header close in for Exeter which produced yet another truly memorable save from Provett whos reputation is improving by the game.
A frenetic end, but Bury are through to Round Three for the second time running. Maybe this time, we might actually get to play in it!
Player Ratings
Provett
7
Scott
6
Woodthorpe
7
Morgan
7
Futcher
6
Haslam
7
Bishop
7
Buchanan
8
Parrish
6
Adams
7
Mangan
6
Hughes
6
Baker
not on long enough to mark
