RELIEF was the overriding emotion for Bury manager David Flitcroft after his League Two side left it late to overcome non-league opponents Hemel Hempstead Town in the first round of the FA Cup.

A tricky replay at the Conference South side beckoned before late goals from Nathan Cameron and Danny Nardiello settled the tie in the Shakers’ favour.

James Potton put the visitors in front with a deflected tenth-minute strike that set up a possible shock.

And even though a well-placed equaliser from Andrew Tutte followed just six minutes later, the tie was on a knife edge up until stoppage time.

“I have seen some of the results, and some of the teams that have gone out of the FA Cup over the weekend and I can understand why after having a difficult afternoon,” said Flitcroft, who admitted he feared an upset after watching Warrington Town knock out Exeter City on Friday night.

“The only thing is winning the football match and getting through to the next round without picking up any injuries and thankfully we have been able to do that.”

Tudors danger man Potton could have had a hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes but for two fine stops by Rob Lainton.

The Bury keeper palmed behind a curling ninth-minute shot from the project co-ordinator, but was left wrong-footed after Potton’s near-post effort from the resulting corner veered in off Pablo Mills’ sliding challenge.

Panic was never allowed to set in though as Tutte calmly notched up his first goal in Bury colours with a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the D.

Yet Potton did his best to unsettle the self-belief of a Bury side that went into the tie on an eight match winning run at home, stealing the ball from Tom Kennedy before stinging the palms of Lainton yet again.

Nicky Adams was possibly unlucky not to win a penalty after his cross was blocked by the outstretched hand of Tudors midfelder Wes Daly, who also legitimately cleared a Danny Rose header off the line.

The tie was much more one-sided after the break following the introduction of Danny Nardiello, who provided the spark Bury were looking for, despite failing to connect properly with two early headers.

Visiting stopper Laurie Walker performed brilliantly to turn behind a Danny Mayor shot as the Bury chances started to mount up, and was again on hand late on to tip over another effort from Tutte.

In between, Rose, Cameron and Nardiello all failed to convert some telling crosses from substitute Chris Hussey, while referee Andy Haines waved away another appeal for a penalty, this time for handball against Hemel centre-back Moussa Diarra.

But the tension inside the JD Stadium evaporated in the 88th minute after Cameron turned sharply to volley home from 10 yards.

And Nardiello snuffed out any remaining chance of an upset in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a close-range header from Adams’ pull-back.

“It was a difficult afternoon for everyone concerned as Hemel have put in an incredible, heroic performance,” added Flitcroft.

“But well done to our lads for their second-half performance because they have really dug in and produced some match-winning moments.”

Bury now go into the hat for tomorrow's second round draw, which will be shown live on BBC2 from 7pm. 

BURY: Lainton 8; Cameron 8, Mills 6, McNulty 6 (Thompson 6 80); Mayor 8, Tutte 8, Etuhu 7, Kennedy 6 (Hussey 7 65); Adams 8; Rose 7, Duffus 5 (Nardiello 7 45).

Not used: Ruddy, Sedgwick, Burgess, Dudley.

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: Walker; Asafu-Adjaye, Johnson (Toomey 45, Simmonds 57), Diarra, Connolly; Parkes, Daly; Thorne; Potton (Jamal Lowe 67), Hawkins, Talbot.

Not used: Allen, Lobjoit, King, May.

Goals: Bury 3 (Tutte 16, Cameron 88, Nardiello 90+4) Hemel Hempstead Town 1 (Potton 10).

Yellow cards: None.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Attendance: 2,944 (302 visiting).

Star man: Nathan Cameron – The 22-year-old defender paid back the first instalment of his new three-year contract with a timely goal that effectively clinched Bury’s place in the second round of the FA Cup. His manager, David Flitcroft, said after the game that he expects the burly centre-back to go on and score more goals at set-pieces after opening his account for the season. But I doubt he envisages too many more of the ilk that put a spirited Hemel Hempstead side to the sword. Opposing boss Dean Brennan described his strike as “Mark Hughes-esque” turning on a sixpence to volley home the bouncing ball. That may be taking it a bit too far but it was a goal that deserved to settle any FA Cup tie.