Rochdale and Bury may be perennial strugglers in The Football League’s lower reaches but that’s not to say they haven’t contested some exciting affairs.
It may not be Liverpool v Manchester United but this North-West derby is oh so much more important for some Manchester families.
For the thousands who flock to Spotland and Gigg Lane every other Saturday, this is the one they all look for when the fixtures are released.
Although there haven’t been many goal-fests here are the top five games played out between the two sides in recent times.
5. Bury 1-1 Rochdale – April 26, 2008
Substitute Adam Le Fondre scored an injury-time penalty to rescue a point in a dramatic contest.
The game was delayed by 15 minutes due to crowd congestion with the attendance later announced as 6,721.
Bury took a second-half lead through Nicky Adams only for Le Fondre was on target from 12-yards to secure a vital point for Dale.
It was an ill-tempered affair as both sides were reduced to 10 men with Rochdale’s Nathan Stanton and Bury’s Ben Futcher both seeing red.
The point helped Keith Hill’s Rochdale side secure a play-off place, eventually losing to Stockport County in the play-off final at Wembley.
4. Rochdale 1-3 Bury – October 9, 2007
A Rochdale front-line of Glenn Murray and Adam Le Fondre were unable to find the target in this Johnstone’s Paint Trophy encounter.
Rory Prednergast gave Dale the lead on the stroke of half-time before The Shakers blew their hosts away in the second-half.
A Glynn Hurst brace and a Domaine Rouse strike secured Bury’s second win at Spotland in just four days.
However Chris Casper lasted just two more months in the job as The Shakers meandered to a disappointing finish of 14th place.
3. Rochdale 1-1 Bury (4-5 penalties) – October 9, 2012
After Rochdale’s relegation from League One earlier that year the sides were soon facing each other again in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Ashley Grimes put gave Dale a half-time lead before Steven Schumacher was on target for Bury just after the interval.
Craig Curran saw red for the hosts just ten minutes from time before the game went straight to penalties following an even 90 minutes.
Phil Edwards missed the only spot-kick to send the Shakers into the next round in what was a forgettable season for both clubs.
Rochdale parted company with John Coleman just a couple of months later while Bury suffered relegation to join their rivals in the bottom tier.
2. Bury 1-2 Rochdale – December 13, 2003
Andy Preece’s final game as Bury player-manager ended in a defeat at the hands of their local rivals.
Dale went into the break with a 1-0 advantage after Andy Bishop’s strike before Terry Dunfield levelled for The Shakers.
Substitute Kevin Townson fired in a late winner for the visitors in what proved to be the final nail in Preece’s coffin, as he went on to join Carlisle United in a playing role.
Bury went on to secure a respectable 12th place finish that season while Rochdale narrowly avoided relegation out of The Football League.
1. Bury 2-4 Rochdale – September 10, 2011
The sides’ first league meeting above the fourth tier of The Football League didn’t disappoint in a rare goal-laden affair.
Ashley Grimes, Marcus Holness and Nicky Adams were on target to fire Rochdale into a shock 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes.
Mike Jones pulled one back for the hosts straight after before David Ball restored Dale’s three-goal cushion just after the break.
Andy Bishop gave Bury a glimmer of hope on the hour but the scoring ended there as the visitors recorded a rare win.
Following Keith Hill’s departure to Barnsley, Steve Eyre was in charge at the start of the campaign but was gone before Christmas.
Dale finished bottom of the pile under new boss John Coleman that season while Richie Barker’s Bury finished a respectable 14th.
Image courtesy of Hendo2401 via Instagram, with thanks.
