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Bury 1 Stockport County 0

8/10/2008

BURY hot-shot Andy Bishop ended County’s Trophy hopes for another season with a typically predatory late strike.

Both sides created their fair share of opportunities throughout the game, but Bishop - a summer target for the Hatters - pounced again to head in his seventh goal of the season.

County started purposefully at Gigg Lane as the rain lashed down. Anthony Pilkington warmed the hands of Bury ‘keeper Wayne Brown, then Paul Turnbull blasted in a goal-bound shot which was blocked by Ben Futcher.

As County kept up their high tempo, Stephen Gleeson fired in an arrowing drive which flew inches over the crossbar.

It took 37 minutes for the Shakers to register their first chance. The ever-dangerous Bishop twisted and turned before shooting just wide from 20 yards.

County loan capture Fraser Forster was in for his first start in place of international absentee Owain fon Williams, and just before half-time he had to be alert to beat away Richie Baker’s fierce shot.

The teams traded chances in the third quarter of the match with the breakthrough still proving elusive. County skipper-for-the-night Gary Dicker curled a shot wide, then Bishop dived in to head straight at Forster.

That man Bishop made no mistake on 76 minutes though. He guided a header past Forster following Michael Jones’ tempting cross from the right.

County boss Jim Gannon said: "I was really impressed with some performances tonight, but some were also very poor.

"We didn’t show enough quality in the final third.

"I expected a bit more from some of our players."

COUNTY: Forster, Mullins, Rose, McNulty, Pilkington (Baker), Dicker, Rowe, Tunnicliffe, Gleeson, Turnbull, McSweeney (Vincent). Subs not used: Owen, Taylor, Rigby.