LDV Vans Trophy Round 1

COUNTY finally recorded their first home win since April thanks to a hard-fought extra-time win against League Two neighbours Bury.

After surviving an early Shakers' onslaught, County were unlucky not to take a fifth minute lead when Rickie Lambert connected with Derek Geary's free-kick but Glyn Garner was alive to the danger.

Forty seconds later Garner was at full stretch to keep out another Lambert header.

The meagre crowd were celebrating after 14 minutes when Jon Daly tapped the ball past Garner after the Bury goalkeeper could only parry Danny Jackman's drive from the edge of the box. Bury's first real chance came two minutes later when Chris Porter rolled the ball the wrong side of Neil Cutler's post.

However, Bury drew level when Paul Scott rose unchallenged to head home David Flitcroft's corner.

County almost fell behind on the stroke of half time, but Colin Kazim-Richards' header drifted wide following Dave Challinor's flick-on.

Jim Goodwin was unlucky not to restore County's lead after 50 minutes when once again Garner was at his best to prevent the Irishman's shot from hitting the target. Bury responded with a Scott header which floated inches wide, then the same player almost scored a spectacular own goal when his header bounced to safety of the angle of post and crossbar.

With Bury down to 10 men in extra-time (and nine before the final whistle), it was left to Stuart Barlow to nod County back in front from close range on 93 minutes, then teenage debutant Adam Le Fondre dispatched a clinical third with just four minutes to go.

COUNTY: Cutler, Geary, Adams, Williams, Griffin, Jackman, Lambert, Daly (Barlow, 60), Cartwright, Robertson (Le Fondre, 77), Goodwin. Subs not used: Spencer, Allen, Bailey.

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