THE nightmare which haunts all First Division teams became reality for West Brom on Tuesday night when they skidded out of the League Cup competition after losing 1-0 to the Shakers.

At a frost-bound Gigg Lane where the pitch resembled a large cake liberally sprinkled with sugar icing, Bury found their feet and with hearts as big as buckets they tackled top class opposition with such conviction that in the end it was the thickening fog which was the biggest threat to their progress into the quarter-final.

From the Bury Times of, Wednesday December 3, 1952

THE struggle continues, but the prospect brightens, Bury's 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Gigg Lane on Saturday, as did their win the previous week at Hull, improved their position in relation to the clubs near the foot of the Second Division table and the Shakers have jumped into seventh place from the foot of the League.

They now have a four-point advantage over Barnsley, the bottom club. With three home matches before the end of the year they might yet gain the modest target of 20 points, which would be reasonably satisfactory.

Saturday's victory, narrow though it might be, was well-earned. The deciding goal was a fortunate one, but even when they handicapped by an injury to Griffiths, Bury were always the more threatening in attack, where the Rovers were moderately served.

There was too a splendid resource in the play of the Bury wing halves and defenders. Much in the play of the home team gave encouragement for the future. If only a little more creative power could be found at inside forward.