Flitcroft salutes brave Hemel

Manager David Flitcroft was relieved to see his side avoid a potential banana skin after Bury beat Hemel Hempstead 3-1.

James Potton had given non-league Hemel a 10th-minute lead, only for Andrew Tutte to level six minutes later. The Tudors then looked set to secure a replay, but their resistance was broken in the 88th minute by Nathan Cameron, before substitute Danny Nardiello sealed Bury's passage in stoppage time. "It was hard work," said Flitcroft. "That's testament to the way Hemel Hempstead set up. "They were heroic and I've said to their manager, 'you've got a team that's prepared to die for you there'. "Their keeper made some worldies, it was inspirational, so a massive credit to them. "But I have to say well done to our lads for the second-half performance. We dug in, applied pressure and produced some match- winning moments. "Hemel got numbers behind the ball, stood firm and made things difficult for us and we only got the third because they sent five or six forward and became disjointed because they had a right go. "I've seen some of the results and some of the teams that have gone out and I can see why after having a difficult afternoon. "But the main thing is we're through to the next round and I'm excited about it." Hemel manager Dean Brennan was magnanimous in defeat. "Bury were the better side, they deserved to win," Brennan said. "They've got a fantastic philosophy in how they play football so full credit to them. "We dug deep and our players gave everything. It was a fantastic spectacle, but we've lost so as the manager it's a bit frustrating. "We went ahead early and their keeper made a couple of saves from James Potton. "He's our bit of magic, the team's built around him, so it's a pity that he and Jorell Johnson had to go off injured. "That deviated our game-plan a bit. "We tried to hold on after going in front, but it was a fantastic strike by them - and so were the others. "They were two late goals, but we could see they were coming so, all in all, I can't complain too much. "We're proud of the fans and the town's got something to talk about now."