BURY manager David Flitcroft is relishing the opportunity to test his side against League One opposition after beating Morecambe in the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Tranmere are the only other bottom-tier team left in the northern half of the draw for the area quarter-finals, which will be made on Saturday.

And the 40-year-old coach, who has been nominated for the League Two manager of the month award for September after guiding the Shakers to top spot, is keen to measure their progress.

“I want to pit my wits against other managers and I want to pit my wits against other teams,” said Flitcroft.

“I want to benchmark how far we have come to see if we are on the right path.”

Sheffield United, Preston, Doncaster, Oldham, Walsall and Notts County complete the draw, with Bury knowing they will have to fight their way through three tough rounds to earn the right to play the winners of the southern section at Wembley.

But it is a challenge Flitcroft is eager to take on “You always hope to keep improving, keep getting better and keep winning games,” he said.

“There are some fantastic football teams in the northern section.

“You are pitting your wits against a different profile of player, teams you are not used to, managers you are not used to.

“It would be fantastic for us to get a decent tie, keep progressing and give us a barometer of how far we have come after six or seven months of hard work.”

Flitcroft will find out tomorrow whether he has secured his second manager of the month award since taking over at Bury.

Other contenders include Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, Southend’s Phil Brown and Exeter manager Paul Tisdale.

And while the Shakers lead the way in the table, victory is not assured for their manager with both Wycombe and Southend claiming more points during September.