Bury 0 Tranmere Rovers 1

BURY’S dreams of a trip down Wembley way were dashed by Tranmere.

With a place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy semi-finals up for grabs, the Gigg Lane faithful might have been forgiven for hoping for a day out at the national stadium.

However any thoughts of a money-spinning date in the capital were extinguished by League One side Rovers.

Ian Thomas-Moore scored the all-important goal in the seventh minute to gain revenge for the Merseysiders, who were dumped out of the same competition at Gigg Lane last season. The home side might feel aggrieved to have lost the match, given their dominance of possession, but the visitors were just too experienced and cute for a youthful Shakers team.

Bury boss Alan Knill gave starts to a number of his fringe players, including a full debut for 19-year-old goalkeeper Richie Branagan – the son of former Wanderers keeper Keith. Unfortunately for the youngster, he was at fault for Tranmere’s winner when he flapped at Enoch Showunmi’s cross and the predatory Thomas-Moore rifled into the bottom corner.

Bury lacked a touch of ingenuity in the final third, but their industry did create a couple of openings. First Tom Lees headed over Elliott Bennett’s free-kick before Tim Cathalina nearly turned Andy Haworth’s cross into his own net.

The Shakers were having the lion’s share of possession without really threatening to draw level.

And Branagan went some way towards atoning for his earlier mistake on the stroke of half time when he tipped Joss Labadie’s stinging shot over the bar.

Chances were at a premium in the second period but a golden opportunity did arrive in the 72nd minute, only for Lenny John-Lewis to head straight at Peter Gulacsi from just six yards.

That injected some life into the game and Showunmi forced a good save out of Branagan before the impressive Nicky Ajose, who was a real bright spark all night, shot wide after latching on to a ball over the top. A late rally followed, but Les Parry’s men expertly closed out the contest.

Defeat will serve as a blow to Bury, but they will be a different proposition once they welcome back key players like Ryan Lowe, Efe Sodje and Michael Jones for Saturday’s derby with Stockport County.

BURY: Branagan 6, Picken 7, Lees 7, Futcher 8, Skarz 7, Haworth 7, Sweeney 6, Schumacher 7, Bennett 6, Ajose 8, John-Lewis 6 (Carlton 6, 79). Subs not used: Jones, Rothwell, Harrop, Williams.

TRANMERE: Gulacsi 7, Cathalina 6, Bakayogo 6, Broomes 7, Cresswell 7, Welsh 7, Labadie 7, Grandison 6, Akins 6, Thomas-Moore 7, Showunmi 8 (Morrow 6, 83). Subs not used: Collister, Blanchard, Mendy, Jennings.

Attendance: 1,961 (563 Tranmere fans).

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincs).