Having battled through more than 3 hours of football toe to toe with one of the National League’s best clubs in Harrogate Town, the Shakers finally were beaten by a 3-1 scoreline that certainly flattered the victors.

Through the dark, wind and rain, over 1,000 Shakers fans crossed the Pennines and crammed into Harrogate’s modest away section.

Their loud and unwavering support throughout created a fantastic atmosphere, leaving the former league side hosts an afterthought on their own turf.

With a first round proper tie at home to AFC Fylde waiting, Bury started well with some neat passing moves in midfield.

Owen Robinson played in James Melhado on the right-hand side, and the Bury full back forced an early save out of Bury-born keeper Luke Hutchinson.

It would be the hosts that took the lead, however, with a passing move across the edge of the box that the Bury defence couldn’t snuff out.

Brad Dolaghan darted through the backline and placed a shot beyond Mitch Allen to open the scoring.

This early goal seemed to give the hosts confidence, and they dominated possession.

The visitors were forced back into their own box.

Bury, backs to the wall and unable to keep the ball, couldn’t force a response of their own, let alone give the defence a break for a moment.

Dolaghan forced his way through into the box, but Oscar Threlkeld and James Neild managed to squeeze him off the ball.

In a rare Shakers attack, Melhado was played in again, his shot was blocked with what looked like a hand, but only a corner was given.

From the set-piece, Hutchinson was forced into a save, and another Melhado cross was not dealt with well by the Sulphurites, green shoots of growth for the Lancastrians.

The half finished with another spell of Harrogate pressure, but Bury defended manfully.

After the break, the away side looked to get back level but struggled to break Harrogate down.

Leo Graham was tackled from behind, no foul was given and Bury nearly conceded on a counterattack.

The Yorkshire side got closer to extending their lead.

Will McGowan shot over, Ellis Taylor saw one shot saved by Mitch Allen and another cleared off the line by Bailey Sloane.

However, Harrogate couldn’t beat Allen and the longer the lead stayed narrow, the greater the danger.

The Shakers substitutes proved to be the difference.

Kai Evans played the ball to one substitute in DJ Pedro.

He was able to get the ball to Mo Touray, who had also come off the bench.

He struck goalwards and, with a deflection steering the ball away from Hutchinson, the ball ended in the back of the net, turning an already loud crowd behind the goal into a cacophony of celebration, noise and pumping fists.

Touray maintaining his record of scoring in every round of the FA Cup.

A moment later it could have been the Shakers taking the lead.

A long ball was headed on by Pedro straight into the path of Kai Evans.

Presented with a one on one chance, his placed shot was well saved by Hutchinson out for a corner.

Had that gone in, the match may have been a different story.

The home side pushed harder and the Bury defence returned to repelling their attacks.

There was a sense we may have to gear up for another half an hour of extra time, but it was not to be.

Evans, looking dead on his feet, allowed Ellis Taylor the space to take a shot from distance, and it landed into the bottom corner with a little over two minutes to play.

Searching for another late equaliser, Bury sent everyone forward for free kicks and even throw-ins.

Mitch Allen, hanging around the edge of the Harrogate box, didn’t retreat when the ball was lost and ended up in a foot race with Taylor that the forward was always going to win, ending the contest 3-1.

Bury fans applauded off their brave team who came so far and got the Shakers closer to a return to the first round of the cup than they have ever been before.

Facing up to a full-time outfit sat second in the National League, throughout two full matches Bury always looked like they belonged there.

Attention now shifts to the FA Trophy on the weekend and the all-important league campaign after that where Bury have certainly got some catching up to do.