Bury 1 Rotherham United 1: Le Fondre to the rescue

A last-minute withdrawal of fellow striker Tom Pope due to a calf injury saw Le Fondre handed the lone striking role for the first time by manager Ronnie Moore.

"He hasn't played it before but he did really well and the circumstances were far from easy but he worked really hard and he got his reward with another excellent finish," said Moore.

Le Fondre's 10th goal of the season was ideally timed two minutes into the second half.

He reacted quickest when Kevin Ellison, having chased a lost cause, won possession off right-back Phil Picken and instantly crossed into the area where Le Fondre had stolen half-a-yard on his marker to head in.

It meant Rotherham did not have to chase the game after gifting Bury the lead four minutes before half-time when defender Exodus Geohaghon never spotted Ryan Lowe behind him as he passed back to goalkeeper Andy Warrington.

Rotherham should have been in front before then but Le Fondre missed a great chance after Nicky Law sent him through.

In a thrilling second half with both sides going for the winner, Bury sent on 17-year-old Manchester United loanee Nicky Ajose and he might have won the game but for a great piece of defending by the experienced Nick Fenton, starting his first game of the season because captain Ryan Cresswell was missing due to a family bereavement.

Bury: Belford; Picken, Sodje, Lees, Scarz; Worrall (Haworth 60), Schumacher, Mozika, Jones (Bennett 85); John-Lewis (Ajose 60), Lowe. Unused substitutes: Futcher, Sweeney, Branagan, Harrop.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Mullins, Geohaghon, Fenton, Newey; Bradley (Marshall 82), J Taylor, Harrison; Law, Le Fondre, Ellison. Unused substitutes: Green, Holden, Ashworth, Warne, Elliott, Annerson.

Referee: G Sutton (Lincs).

Man of the match: Jason Taylor.