SHAKERS believe their passing style is bound to flourish on Bournemouth's smoother playing surface in an intriguing Third Division play-off second leg on Tuesday night.

After bossing 47 minutes of a first leg drought at Gigg Lane on Saturday, Premiership referee Jeff Winter crucially misjudged a fiery clash between Jamie Stuart and Wade Elliott.

Elliott received only a booking after breaking Stuart's nose with a raised elbow but Stuart's angry push to the chest was deemed as warranting a straight red, bringing an unfair and unsavoury halt to his season as his ban takes immediate effect.

To be fair, at first glance the Bury wing back appeared for all the world to have punched Elliott in the face. But video evidence later conclusively disproved that theory, to the anger of Stuart, his team-mates and manager Andy Preece.

"It's not fair that these days the person who starts it always gets away with it and the one who reacts gets sent off," said furious eye witness Jon Newby in a stunning attack on the match official.

"Mr Winter has decided he's the boss of the game and he wants to be centre of attention. That happens so often with Premiership referees. The fact that he was signing autographs before the game says it all.

"I just feel so sorry for Jamie. He's played so well for us this season and now he'll miss the rest of the play-offs."

Preece spent the best part of 15 minutes reviewing the incident moments after the final whistle.

But, while saddened by what he saw, he resigned himself to losing Stuart for the rest of Bury's play-off campaign.

"I have appealed against more straight forward red cards than that and lost," he said.

"We are only Bury Football Club. We don't get away with appeals so I very much doubt it would be worth the time and money appealing over this."

As is the nature of red cards, Stuart's dismissal had a profound effect on the pattern of play.

Despite having little in the way of scoring chances in a simple opening period for the goalkeepers, Shakers started at a high tempo and dominated possession and territory encouragingly. Newby added some classy touches and flicks to his typical endeavour down the channels, while the midfield hassled and harried Bournemouth into a pathetically submissive role.

The Cherries were allowed more space to venture forward after the break, with Glynn Garner brilliantly palming over a Steve Fletcher header and clearing a Steven Purches shot off the line.

But the home side still pushed forward menacingly, with Newby cutting in from the right flank to force a save from Neil Moss, and their passing style is bound to flourish on Bournemouth's smoother playing surface in an intriguing second leg.

Bury form guide: Garner 8, Connell 7, Stuart 7, Nelson 7, Redmond 7, Woodthorpe 7, Forrest 7, Billy 7, Clegg 8, Newby 8, Cramb 6. Subs: Preece (for Newby 82) 6, Nugent (for Cramb 82) 6, Swailes (Clegg 77) 6. Not used: Unsworth, Dunfield.

Referee: Jeff Winter

Attendance: 5,782