Bury Town boss Ben Chenery was impressed with his side’s second-half display against National League South side Hemel Hempstead.

Three-nil losers, Bury made Hemel, who ply their trade two leagues above the Suffolk side, sweat with a gutsy second 45 minutes in which Bradley Barber missed a penalty.

“They were a good team and rightly so with the league they play in,” reflected Chenery.

“I think we showed them too much respect first half, and I was very disappointed with the lads. I made my thoughts known at half-time. There were a few choice words and I think they needed to have that because it’s a cup tie. If I was the Hemel Hempstead manager today, coming here I’d have been thinking ‘it could be a tricky one.’ Bury are unbeaten in 10, they’re going to be in our faces, they’re going to be putting their foot in, they’re going to make it hard for us.

“But we didn’t do that first half, nowhere near it.”

Chenery continued: “We made a personnel change and changed our formation at half-time, and they did respond to be fair.

“We showed great character and I think the game was a tale of two penalties. I think the penalty we gave away was a dreadful individual decision, and I think Bradley Barber’s penalty is a good one, he was very unfortunate. It could have changed it. I’m not going to have a go at him for that, I think he struck it really well. If we got that goal, with momentum, I think we could have been close.”

The Bury boss also heaped the praise on his goalkeeper – Neil O’Sullivan – who made several outstanding saves to keep Hemel at bay.

“I thought the goalkeeper was fantastic,” he continued.

“I’m pleased for Neil, he’s waited for his chance and he’s grabbed it. I think the lads that came on did well, especially Noel (Aitkens). He’s got a bright future because he’s got a bit of pace and he’s got great heart.

“He went on and did show some of the players what it is all about, and it is all about passion, drive, determination, and he certainly did that.”