For the 'home' leg of the eagerly awaited Bury derby the 4th XI were able to field a side pretty representative of the second half of this season.

Bury Men's IV 0 Bury V 5

For the 'home' leg of the eagerly awaited Bury derby the 4th XI were able to field a side pretty representative of the second half of this season.

With Davies once more in goal, having recovered from his shoulder injury, Bury lined up with Wise, Hollins, Chrystal and Lucas across the back, the latter playing his first senior game. In midfield, Gibney and Briggs lent some experience and strength to the flanks, whilst a young pairing of Fildes and Soper in central midfield sought to provide a supply to Longfield and Heard up front.

The fourths generated some pleasing hockey in the first half, with Jake Lucas looking particularly assured at right-back on his senior debut. Fildes and Soper were linking excellently in the middle, coping comfortably with the pressure from their experienced opposition and passing round them. The team managed to create a number of promising moves into the opposing third, winning a number of short corners, but despite excellent drag outs from Briggs were unable to capitalise on these. Hollins came closest with a decent flick just inside the post, Hawes saving with a last-ditch stop on the line.

Instead it was the fifth team that were taking their chances. Their combination of Tasker, Rolfe and Chrystal junior up front was causing the fourth team defence problems and twice before half-time they were able to capitalise on goalmouth scrambles to score after play had broken down with the defence failing to clear.

The home side lost some confidence with these setbacks and did not play as well in the second half. Despite some excellent distribution from Chrystal senior, finding Briggs high on the right on several occasions, and despite a few well-worked openings it was the fifth team who looked more threatening and they extended their lead with two goals from short corners before Rolfe completed the rout with a good deflection on a Chrystal Junior strike that was heading outside the post.

Bury deserved more for their efforts but goals have proved hard to come by this campaign and again today this proved to be the case