On a momentous and emotionally charged day that saw competitive men’s football return to Gigg Lane, Bury Football Club announced their return to the football pyramid in some style.

The match itself could have been forgiven for being lost in the occasion however Andy Welsh’s side delivered a devastating attacking performance that utterly overwhelmed the visiting Glossop North End.

In the sixth minute Bury number 9 Benito Lowe pounced on a defensive error and with just the keeper to beat curled a shot into the far corner to send the bumper Gigg Lane crowd into raptures.

Lowe had the opportunity to double his and Bury’s total within five minutes. Breaking down the left wing Sajjad Elhassan was brought down in the box by Will Hartshorne and the referee Justice Abaka-Jakobs lived up to the name and pointed to the spot. Lowe sent the visiting keeper Harvey Giles the wrong way to give Bury a strong lead early in the match.

The Shakers continued to pile on the pressure. A Jack Tinning free kick sailed over the Glossop bar while Darius Palma got in behind the North End defence. His goal bound shot was well saved by Giles and the rebound by Andy Briggs was cleared off the line.

A rare long range effort by midfielder Chris Rowney brushed the roof of the net while his volley at the back post from a Tinning corner had to be tipped over by Giles. That was the first of three consecutive corners for Bury who finally grabbed their third goal when Tinning’s last corner eluded everyone except Briggs who thumped his effort home from about a yard out.

The lead could have been even greater, Lowe’s squared ball to Elhassan flashed wide of goal though Glossop were unfortunate not to score themselves heading against the bar from a corner but it was the hosts that found themselves three goals to the good at the break.

Into the second half Bury could have further extended their lead with early chances for Palma, Lenehan and Briggs spurned before left-back Jordi Nsaka scored the goal of the day. Receiving the ball from Elhassan Nsaka burst forward unopposed by the Glossop defence before rifling a shot into the far bottom corner from outside the box.

Lenehan and Briggs both shot wide of the post as Bury pressed on for a fifth but it was the visitors who would grab the next goal. A free kick sent into the Bury box seemed to have been collected by keeper Jack Atkinson but it was spilled directly towards Glossop substitute Bevan Burey to bundle home a consolation for the away side.

The loss of the clean sheet may have taken a little gloss off what had been a perfect day for the Shakers but midfielder Jack Lenehan ensured he would get the last word. Having looked good for a goal for much of the match Lenehan got his reward in the 88th minute cutting inside past the Glossop defence and firing into the bottom corner.

Full-time was called bringing to a close an important match in Bury FC's history and provided a strong first step towards its future.