Matlock looked like comfortably holding Bury's late surge only to concede an injury time penalty which meant a long trip to Suffolk on Tuesday night.
After falling behind to Sam Reed's 29th minute strike, the Gladiators rallied to lead at the interval thanks to goals from Liam King and substitute Dene Cropper. They could and probably should have put the tie to bed in the second half but when a pull back from Ben Coker struck the unfortunate Scott Brough on the arm, Coker himself scored from the spot with the match in its 93rd minute.
Matlock recalled Adam Sollitt and Danny Wood after injury in place of Nick Buxton and the cup tied Nathan Benger. There was a one minute's silence, impeccably observed, for local murdered taxi driver Stuart Ludlam before the match got off to a rather slow start in the warm Autumn sunshine.
Clear cut opportunities were scarce in the opening exchanges although it was clear to see that both Matlock and their Zamoretto Southern LLeague Midlands Division opponents, could play decent football when then the ball stayed on the deck.
Danny Wood cut in from the left to fire haigh and wide and then in a similar move forced goalkeeper Marcus Garnham into a comfortable save low at his near post. For Bury, a Callum Kearns piledriver was superbly tipped over the bar by Sollitt.
But the match was badly in need of a goal and it came on 29 minutes when Coker skipped around Brough to thread in a low pass which SAM REED, with the help of a slight deflection, fired unconvincingly into the corner.
Bury's celebrations though were shortlived for Town were back on level terms within three minutes.Ross Hannah deserves tremendous credit for his part in the build up, collecting a forward pass from Steve Warne on the edge of the box, before turning exquisitely and delivering a inch perfect low pass to the advancing KING who fired a sweet eighteen yard left footer past the diving Garnham.
Jamie Jackson was having one of those days when he was all too easily being shaken off the ball and he was replaced by Dene Cropper. What an astute move it was. Brough was fouled just inside the Bury half and when the free kick was hoisted high into the Bury box, CROPPER towered above everyone to thump a firm downward header beyond Garnham with four minutes of the first half remaining.
Now Matlock needed to go on and dominate in the second half but in short, they didn't. It was an even affair and as long as the tie remained at 2-1, Bury had a sniff of a chance.
Hannah was working his socks off in attack with his unselfish running and ball retention. Despite a number of promising moves, Matlock could not add to their lead. Bury had appeals for a penalty when the ball was slammed against Lee Featherstone's arm waved away and then there was an altercation betwen Sollitt and Kieron Leabon which saw both men booked. Sollitt was rather fortunate, having slapped his opponent. He could easily have been taking first use of the showers.
Sollitt pushed away a shot from Ross Kelly before Matlock might have been awarded a couple of penalties of their own when the Bury defence got in a tangle trrying to cope with Hannah.
Gareth Davies drove wide and substitute Ben Algar shot at Garnham as the clock ticked on. A Hannah free kick was deflected wide for a corner as the match entered stoppage time.
Matlock looked to have done enough but when a cross ffrom the right was overhit, Coker did well to keep possession as he hooked the ball back, striking Brough on the arm.
This time referee Ward granted the appeals and COKER himself sent Sollitt the wrong way from the spot and Bury had saved themselves right at the death. to give the Gladiators a long and unwelcome journey on Tuesday.
MATLOCK TOWN: Sollitt, Brough, Featherstone, King, Haran, Lukic, Warne, Davies, Jackson (Cropper 34), Hannah, Wood (Algar 57) Other subs: Thorpe, Yates, Buxton, Cartwright.
REFEREE: C J Ward-Blyth, Notts. ATTENDANCE: 341 STAR MAN: Ross Hannah.
