Revenge was instant, after the League defeat just three weeks previous, and an opening 45 minutes, illuminated by two goals, will have impressed both Dodd and his successor, rumoured to be watching from amongst the visiting fans in the South Stand. Bury were resurgent after the break but a glaring lack of attacking options allowed The Shots to keep them at arm’s length.
Soares had already made a late break into the box from midfield – skimming a header wide – when he swept home a half-volley on 13 minutes, to give The Shots an early lead. Jaimez-Ruiz’s throw out allowed Soares and Donnelly to send Hudson scampering down the right, and, continuing his run, the Barbadian finished confidently.
Only sporadically did Bury display their real quality, with Michael Jones their outstanding individual, but even he was well-marshalled by an obdurate Sandell. Donnelly doubled Aldershot’s lead, latching onto Morgan’s touch and bursting past a couple of defenders into the box to shoot past Brown, and suddenly they were rampant.
Brown made a flying save to deny Hudson, but Baker should have pulled a goal back in injury time, slicing his shot badly after Jones had worked hard to get behind Sandell.
Bury resumed a stronger, more purposeful outfit, but continued to lack a cutting edge in a second half of few chances. Buchanan’s angled shot, from a quickly-taken free-kick, and Lowe’s chip, which drifted over the bar, was as close as they got.
Centre-half Cresswell was pushed forward as an emergency targetman but still Jaimez-Ruiz was required for little more than catching practice. Soares sliced a shot wide at the end of a flowing counter-attack, but Aldershot were content to soak up pressure, safe in the knowledge that their first-half efforts had sealed passage into round two.
Short but ending on a sweet note, Dodd’s parting gift to the new full-time incumbent may just prove to be invaluable – and of equal pleasure to the Club’s bank manager.
SHOTS: Jaimez-Ruiz, Herd, Streaker, Hinshelwood, Charles, Soares (Harding), Chalmers, Morgan (Grant), Donnelly (Hylton), Hudson, Sandell.
Subs not used: Blackburn, Hopkinson, German, Masters.
BURY: Brown, Buchanan, Cresswell, Sodje, Newey, Racchi (Futcher), S Dawson, Barry-Murphy, Baker (Scott), Jones, Lowe.
Subs not used: Belford, Harrop, A Dawson, McCartney.
Attendance: 2,519 (including 220 away fans)
Referee: S Bratt (West Midlands)