Goals at the opening and close of the match book-ended a solid 2-0 win over AFC Liverpool at Gigg Lane.

Though Bury entered the Tuesday evening clash unbeaten in their first six matches it was just their second home match of the season and were still in search of their first home win on their new artificial surface.

Buoyed by impressive performances on the weekend against Avro Bryan Ly and Lewis Alessandra were added to the starting eleven while Macauley Wilson was preferred to Lewis Earl in defence.

While the Shakers sought to control the game from the start it was the visitors who had the first opportunity. AFC Liverpool entered the match unbeaten in the league themselves and above Bury in the still early league table. Shakers stopper Tom Stewart was made to make an early save from a long-range shot and then claimed the loose ball before Reds forward Elliot Taylor could get to it.

The hosts responded and quickly turned the match in their favour. A long-range shot from Bryan Ly fizzed just wide of the post, the Bury number 10 also tested the visitors with a free kick turned away for a corner. From that next set piece Bury took the lead. Ly again sent a long delivery towards the back post, arriving late and unmarked Bury captain Macauley Wilson headed home his first goal for the Shakers.

From there Dave McNabb’s side looked imperious. Barring a Liverpool free-kick well saved by Stewart it was one-way traffic with Bury enjoying almost all the possession and regularly camped in the away side’s final third.

Alex Cherera playing against his former club had a chance that flashed over the crossbar while Ruben Jerome had a good shot blocked in the box, the rebound by Cameron Fogerty was off target.

A long-range Ly free kick had to be tipped over by busy visiting goalkeeper Jack McGovern. Lewis Alessandra couldn’t keep his shot down after good build-up work by Ly and Bebeto Gomes and just before half-time the home side broke through Liverpool’s lines once again. Mac Wilson setting Ly free, his low cross would have found the open Cherera but for the late intervention of McGovern.

After the break AFC Liverpool came out with a renewed energy, Bury had to contain the threat in the early moments of the second half as they began to be pressed more when in possession.

The Shakers remained the side in control of the ball and the match but goal scoring opportunities became rarer. Whether it was the pressure to maintain the lead, a more resilient defence or an overly cautious attack but Bury’s chances began to dry up.

Both Jerome and Ly put good chances well wide of the mark while substitute Sam Coughlan when played through by Jerome could only place his shot directly at McGovern. Mac Wilson in a near copy of his opening goal won a header from a corner but this time the ball went agonisingly over the bar.

In the closing minutes the Reds added another striker into the mix and the Bury defence started to feel the pressure for the first time in a while. Nervous minutes stretched out as the seconds on the scoreboard slowly ticked by. Liverpool substitute Joseph Cunningham shot over the bar from a good position and Bury’s lead looked increasingly precarious.

Just as time was running out Bury counter-attacked. Connor Pye was shoved in the back as he broke into the Liverpool penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot as normal time expired. Rustam Stepans stepped up to score Bury’s second of the night and secure the three points for the hosts.

The full-time whistle sounded giving Bury their first win on home soil, or should that be on home rubber crumb, of the season and recorded their first clean sheet to go with it. It was far from their recent cavalier high-scoring exploits but Bury proved themselves to be a well-organised, hard-working outfit that can beat even previously undefeated sides. The win takes Bury up to fifth, hot on the heels of the early pacesetters.