19:55: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2002.

WORTHINGTON CUP 2ND ROUND

BOLTON WANDERERS V BURY

SAM Allardyce took the opportunity to rest the majority of his first team regulars and give debuts to three of his latest signings.

David Holdsworth, the twin brother of Dean who was released by Birmingham in the summer, went in at centre back; Akin Bulent, signed on a free transfer from Galatasaray, lined up in midfield; and former Spurs striker Chris Armstrong made his first senior appearance in attack alongside Jon Walters.

Jay Jay Okocha was ruled out after suffering a knock in training but Wanderers still managed to start with three full internationals - Tofting, Ivan Campo and Jermaine Johnson.

Bury made one change to the side that drew 2-2 at Wrexham on Saturday, George Clegg replacing Martyn Forrest in midfield. Jamie Stuart, whose winner against Stoke booked Bury's place in the second round, returned to the subs' bench after missing the Wrexham game for the birth of his daughter Tilly.

Wanderers: Poole, Mendy, David Holdsworth, Campo, Livesey, Johnson, Tofting, Akin, Smith, Walters, Armstrong. SubsL Jaaskelainen, Pedersen, Nolan,

Dean Holdsworth, Richardson.

Bury: Garner, Swailes, Barrass, Nelson, Unsworth, Clegg, Billy, Dunfield, Abbott, Newby. Subs: Preece, Forrest, Stuart, O'Shaughnessy, George.

Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham).

20:47: WANDERERS 0 BURY 0

Half-time

SAM Allardyce picked a side he felt was capable of beating the men from Gigg Lane but it looked anything but that as the Shakers fashioned the best of the first half chances.

Bury did not look overawed and Kevin Poole, making his first start of the season had to make early saves from Terry Dunfield, the lively midfielder who has impressed during his loan spell from Manchester City.

Wanderers went with a three centre-back formation - a departure from their familiar system - and Bernard Mendy showed some good touches at right wing-back. But the nearest they got to Glynn Garner's goal was when Chris Armstrong blocked Danny Swailes' attempted clearance and the rebound flew narrowly wide of the keeper's left post.

21:58: WANDERERS 0 BURY 1

WANDERERS suffered the indignity of crashing out of the Worthington Cup at the first hurdle to their lowly local rivals at the Reebok.

The derby decider came in the 48th minute, credited as an own goal by Bernard Mendy, who appeared to turn the ball into his own net when he slid in on John Newby's cross under pressure from Colin Woodthorpe.

It was no more than Andy Preece's Third Division side deserved. They created the better chances with on loan midfielder Terry Dunfield setting the standard with two early strikes, which Kevin Poole did well to keep out.

Sam Allardyce had said he would pick a side capable of winning the tie but it did not work out that way as Bury played some of the best football of the night in front of a big travelling support.

It was a bad night all round for Wanderers, who ended the game down to 10 men after Turkish midfielder Akin - making his debut following his free transfer from Galatasaray - was sent off on 64 minutes for a second bookable offence. Cautioned in the first half for kicking the ball away, his second caution was for a foul on Pawel Abbott.

For Bury, the victory might have come at a price with midfielder George Clegg stretchered off 15 minutes from the end with a leg injury after an innocent-looking challenge by David Holdsworth.

Wanderers: Poole, Mendy, David Holdsworth, Campo, Livesey, Johnson, Tofting, Akin, Smith, Walters, Armstrong. Subs: Pedersen for Armstrong 53 mins,

Dean Holdsworth for Walters 58 mins, Nolan for Johnson 59 mins. Not used: Jaaskelainen, Richardson.

Bury: Garner, Swailes, Barrass, Nelson, Unsworth, Clegg, Billy, Dunfield, Abbott, Newby. Subs: Forrest for Vlegg 75 mins, Preece for Abbott 87 mins, Stuart for Abbott 87 mins. Not used: O'Shaughnessy, George.

Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham).

Attendance: 12,621.