A first-half header from Leigh Bromby and a second-half brace by Jordan Robertson saw the Blades emerge as easy 3-0 winners at a sunsoaked Bury.

Whilst Ched Evans didn't make an appearance Ryan France and Keith Treacy were both involved and United gave 45 minutes to triallist Charlton defender Jonathan Fortune.

The Blades produced the first moment of danger in the match when Cotterill shrugged off Buchanan and slid an inviting ball across goal with no-one getting a touch.

But defensive slackness almost cost them dearly as Barry-Murphy's right wing corner was swung in deep. When Scott headed back across goal Bennett reacted superbly to push Carlton's goalbound header over the top.

Immediately, Reid showed impressively, tricking his way between two defenders and curling a 25 yarder just a yard too high.

A promising move down the left involving Taylor, Montgomery and Quinn looked promising but when they worked space for Cotterill his attempt was well off target.

Howard produced a much better strike, whistling a first-time volley just beyond the left hand post after Quinn laid Cotterill's pass into his stride.

The Blades were stitching together some nice passages of play and frequently stretched the home side, with Montgomery seeing a lot of the ball as the base of the midfield three.

And they deservedly took the lead in the 29th minute with BROMBY stooping to head past substitute goalkeeper Spencer after brilliant work on the byline from Ward.

Bury sprung their best attack two minutes later but Carlton made a hash of getting the ball out of his feet for a clear strike, ruining Dawson's strength and persistence in creating the opportunity.

Cotterill and Reid were enjoying plenty of freedom, switching wings, and they combined again with the former showing strength initially to keep possession and firing just wide.

The Shakers' Player of the Year Dawson saved his side by bravely blocking Quinn as the midfielder ran into space and lashed a volley on target.

New signings Ryan France and Keith Treacy were amongst six changes at the interval but another, Robertson, easily outpaced a lumbering Futcher to race into the box but his cross was snuffed out.

It didn't prevent United continuing to dominate possession although Bennett had a let-off when his poor clearance went straight to Carlton who promptly lofted the ball over the top.

Then, when the home side had made a similar rash of substitutions one of them, Baker, lashed a fierce low drive from the edge of the area that Bennett did well to parry and smother.

Although a degree of creativity had gone from United's attacking play they still looked very comfortable with the ball and Treacy twice produced excellently placed crosses.

Triallist Glen Little played an important role in the Blades opening up a two goal lead, feeding ROBERTSON who turned well and lashed an angled fifteen yard shot low past Spencer in the 80th minute.

It became 3-0 after 88 minutes, Brown dinking a good ball in towards ROBERTSON who held off a challenge and shot home off the post.

Bury: Brown (Spencer 13), Scott (Johnson 63), Buchanan (Allen 63), Futcher (Webster 63), Dawson, Carlton (Rouse 80), Barry-Murpy (Stott 63), Racchi (Stott 63), Jones (Brown 86), Lowe, Sodje (Cresswell 63).
Unused: Thompson, Rothwell.

Blades: Bennett (Haber 76) Bromby, Morgan (Kilgallon HT), Fortune (France HT), Taylor (Brown 82); Howard (Treacy HT), Montgomery (Hendrie HT), Quinn (Carney 72); Cotterill (Little HT), Ward (Robertson HT), Reid.