Four second-half goals helped Bury shake off a disappointing start to the year with a convincing 4-1 victory away to Barnoldswick Town.

In their first match since a humbling defeat against West Didsbury two weeks earlier Dave McNabb rang the changes for the Shakers. Both new signings Louis Jeanne and Tyler James went straight into a starting line-up already quite changed from the Bury side of only a few weeks ago.

The Shakers were boosted with players returning from injury, Aaron Chalmers initially reported to be absent for months after suffering severe burns from a firework accident on New Year’s Eve was starting alongside Jeanne in defence. Brad Carroll out with a knee injury since the first week of August was now recovered and on the bench. Meanwhile, Nicky Adams kept his spot in the first team but was shifted to the right-back position, a role he had last played for Bury in the promotion campaign of 2019.

Bury started the match brightly. Tyler James in his first act as a Bury player skipped past a defender but was brought down just outside the box. The subsequent free-kick led to a DJ Pedro header that was saved by Jack McGovern. The Barlick keeper had to be on his toes as one Rustam Stepans free kick was pushed around the post and another curled just over the crossbar.

The home side grew into the contest and began to test the Bury defence. Aaron Chalmers threw himself at a dangerous cross into the Bury box while Mitch Allen acrobatically tipped a long-range shot over the bar.

The Shakers frontline continued to pressure the Barlick defence but found a stout defender in Brandon Barski, when they could get around the big centre-back they had chances. Pedro set Lewis Byrne through on goal but McGovern saved well. Pedro had a chance of his own played through by a towering Chalmers header, his blistering shot flashed across the face of goal.

While Bury enjoyed a first half largely in control it did not turn into goals, this was quickly remedied after the restart.

An early free-kick saw Adams play the ball onto an oncoming Stepans who blasted a long-range strike low into the bottom corner that beat McGovern and secured Bury’s first goal of 2025.

From there the Shakers never looked back, Byrne broke into the box and laid the ball off but just missed the connection with Pedro, Bury’s centre forward did meet a Nicky Adams cross with an audacious overhead kick that went narrowly wide, finally Bury got their second of the match. A long ball forward by Stepans found Tyler James, his shot was saved by McGovern but the quick Lewis Byrne beat the keeper to the rebound and slammed home his first goal for his new club.

The away side were growing in confidence, attacks were frequent and crosses were finding men in yellow. Another Bury free kick was struck by Stepans, the low effort was spilled by McGovern straight into the path of  substitute Ruben Jerome. He finished easily to make it 3-0 to Bury.

Quickly it was four. Another cross from Adams found the unmarked Tyler James at the far post, the debutant volleyed home to the top corner.

The Barlick dam was well and truly breached and the flood of Bury chances continued. Bryan Ly, on from the bench, fired a long-range shot McGovern could only push away before a handball from a corner saw the Shakers awarded a penalty and a chance to make it five. Ly stepped up to take the spot kick but for the first time this season was denied, McGovern guessed the right way and did well to get across and save from 12 yards.

In the end, the hosts would have the last word. A cross from the Barnoldswick left wing was toe poked home by William Procter denying the visitors a clean sheet. Bury however were content to collect another three points, enough to claim first place.