Bury 3

Blackpool 2

WITH almost as much water and sand in evidence than on Blackpool's Golden Mile the Gigg Lane pitch at 3pm must have had a very familiar look to anyone who'd made the trip from the Fylde coast.

But it didn't turn out to be a home from home for Steve McMahon's men as the ten-man Shakers pushed their Lancashire rivals a major step nearer the Second Division relegation trapdoor after a rollercoaster of a derby clash

It was a superb stoppage time winner from Ady Littlejohn that earned Andy Preece's men the full three points after seeing a two goal lead wiped out by the battling Seasiders.

Torrential rain an hour before kick-off time put the game in serious doubt right up to the final minute and groundsman Mike Curtis and his staff strugged manfully to fork away the large areas of standing water that covered the surface.

However, Chester official Mike Jones decided to start the match but with no sign of the rain abating there didn't seem much hope of the full ninety minutes being completed.

And it wasn't just the conditions that proved ridiculous as the Shakers found to their cost after 17 minutes when Matt Barrass was harshly red-carded for bringing down James Thomas after the striker went scampering clear on goal.

Given the state of the pitch Barrass' awkward challenge was only to be expected but Mr Jones, at least 30 yards behind play, chose not to take that into consideration and the Shakers youngster was off.

The turn of events merely galvanised an already determined Bury side, who welcomed back inspirational defender Chris Swailes after a lengthy injury lay-off, so it came as no surprise when they took the lead after 36 minutes.

It was the boss, and former Pool favourite, Preece who did the business rising above former Shaker Ian Hughes to power home a Nick Daws free-kick into the top corner.

Three minutes after the interval the depleted Shakers doubled their tally after Preece was hauled back by former Manchester City defender Paul Beesley in the box.

The Bury boss picked himself off the ground to coolly slot home from the spot for his eleventh goal of the campaign.

Midfielder Martyn Forrest replaced Indian international Baichung Bhutia just after the hour mark but the decision didn't exactly have the desired effect for the home side.

With Preece playing as a lone striker the Seasiders threw more men forward and pulled a goal back after 68 minutes.

Then four minutes later a slip by Chris Swailes allowed Thomas to get away down the left and his cross was fired home from close range by veteran striker Mike Newell.

After pulling off a fine double block from Thomas Kenny punched a powerful 20-yard Richardson drive to safety then incredibly blocked a Gill header from point-blank range afer 89 minutes as the visitors sensed all three points could be theirs.

But they were left broken-hearted three minutes into stoppage time when Littlejohn skipped past a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before unleashing a superb left-foot drive that rocketed into the corner of Barnes goal.