EVEN Bury's biggest attendance for 18 months could not help to stop the rot as they suffered derby-day blues against Bolton.

After 17 years of patiently waiting in the wings while their greatest rivals took the Premier League by storm, the Shakers had the chance to earn bragging rights live in front of the Sky Sports cameras – and 8,007 fans that packed out Gigg Lane.

The tension between clubs had been brewing for decades, this was the night the town was waiting for.

The evening's tone was set before the game even kicked off as Bury supporters crammed the ground early to brew the atmosphere before the players even began their warm ups.

A blue smoke bomb was smuggled in and released by a section of the Shakers fans as the sides emerged for kick off to an electric noise – this was a derby like no other.

Early on the hosts struggled to deal with Bolton's attacking threat as Sammy Ameobi's trickery unnerved Greg Leigh and Antony Kay at the back.

The Shakers were clearly missing the injured Craig Jones at right-back and his replacement, Niall Maher, controversially brought down Zach Clough when back-tracking towards his own goal, before the Wanderers forward picked himself up and duly rolled in the resulting spot kick.

The goal ended an unwanted recorded for Bolton boss Phil Parkinson, who as Bradford manager, had gone more than five hours since last scoring at Gigg Lane.

Wanderers, who sold out their allocation of 3,200 tickets, also had supporters planted in with the home fans and a clash broke out in the Les Hart stand following the first goal.

Maher made amends for his early error with a superb goal-line clearance minutes later to deny Clough his second of the game.

A ceasefire was called between the fans in the 15th minute as both sets of supporters shone lights in memory of 15-year-old Zak Vali – the son of boxing promoter Asif Vali – who sadly passed away last year following a long battle with cancer.

But tempers were lit again in the 22nd minute as police and stewards battled with Bury supporters who were hurling abuse at Wanderers left-back Andrew Taylor.

Police gained control of the crowds as the game petered out to half time – only Neil Danns' low shot caused the slightest of problems for Mark Howard in the Bolton goal.

Bury enjoyed their best spell of the game after the break with winger Danny Mayor at the heart of the attack.

But they failed to make the pressure count and on the counter attack Clough was fouled in the area by Leon Barnett and he scored his second of the game from the spot.

Wanderers fans joined their team on the pitch in celebration and the restart was halted as another smoke bomb was thrown on to the pitch near Ben Williams.

Unlike in recent performances, Bury kept their heads despite staring defeat in the face.

Only Tom Soares entered the referee's notebook, for scything down Jay Spearing in the middle of the park to earn his eighth yellow of the season, as the game ended in disappointment for the home fans.

BURY 4-5-1

BEN WILLIAMS 6

NIALL MAHER 4

LEON BARNETT 5

ANTONY KAY 5

GREG LEIGH 5

ZELI ISMAIL 5

NEIL DANNS 5

TOM SOARES 5

JACOB MELLIS 5

DANNY MAYOR 6

JAMES VAUGHAN 5

Subs: Hallam Hope 5 (for Neil Danns 60), Kelvin Etuhu 5 (for Niall Maher 72), Andrew Tutte 5 (for Leon Barnett 81).

Not used: Rachubka, Burgess, G. Miller, Dudley