Seven goals from seven different goalscorers gave Bury an impressive victory over Litherland REMYCA further extending their lead at the top of the table.

Just as in the Shakers last match away at South Liverpool Dave McNabb’s side made a ferocious start. A Rustam Stepans cross found Bebeto Gomes who saw his shot saved, the ball fell to Josh Gregory who had his attempt blocked by a defender before the ball came back to Stepans, his second cross found DJ Pedro but he couldn’t direct his header goalwards, all within the opening minute of the match.

It didn’t take long for the home side to open the scoring. A long throw by Reece Kendall caused chaos in the REMY box. Goalkeeper Pat McLaughlin came for the ball but missed leaving Bury defender Aaron Chalmers with the simplest of headers into an empty net.

The hosts quickly went in search of a second goal to secure their lead, Josh Gregory swinging in a low free-kick that went just wide of the post was close but Bury had to only wait a couple more minutes to double their advantage. Gomes breaking down the right hand side crossed the ball to Stepans left all alone in the box. He controlled the ball before slamming his effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 to Bury.

The relentless Bury attack never stopped. Aiden Walker had two great chances at the far post heading a Kendall throw wide and from a Stepans corner shot just off the mark. It wasn’t all one way traffic though, the REMY had a couple of excellent chances to get back into the match. James Hammill beating the Shakers offside trap was one on one with Mitch Allen but the Shakers stopper did brilliantly to save the shot. Hammill again got even closer shooting on goal, his effort was deflected onto the woodwork by Walker and plucked out of the air by Allen.

Just as the visitors looked to be getting back into the contest the hosts scored again. Lewis Byrne had twice earlier been denied a clear run on goal by the assistant referee’s flag but the REMY high defensive line was foiled again following a Bury counter-attack. Pedro played a perfect through-ball and Byrne raced clear of the defence. He rounded McLaughlin and passed into an open net for his first goal at Gigg Lane as a Shaker.

The third goal seemed to break the spirits of REMYCA and it was soon followed by a fourth. A Stepans corner went long to Kendall who passed it back into the mixer and Walker denied twice earlier in the match was there to put away his first Bury goal.

Stepans again the provider sent in a low cross, both Pedro and Byrne missed what would have been a certain goal had they made any meaningful contact. Still with half-time close at hand Bury would not give up on finding a fifth goal. Stepans again crossed to Pedro who forced a fantastic save from McLaughlin, the ball wasn’t cleared however and made its way to Gregory. His shot was blocked but the rebound fell to Cam Fogerty who made sure by blasting his effort firmly into the back of the net.

Bury made two changes at the break not wishing to take risks in a match that seemed to be well won. Ruben Jerome and Tyler James were brought on and immediately made an impact. Gomes played a ball forward for Jerome, McLaughlin knocked the ball away from the oncoming Shakers attacker but directly into the path of James who simply curled the ball beyond the stranded keeper and into the empty goal behind him. Bury’s sixth goal coming just 25 seconds after the restart.

James was at the heart of the Bury attack sending key passes to Byrne and to Jerome. Stepans also remained a danger setting up Byrne to shoot but the league’s top scorer just scuffed his shot.

The closest the REMY came to claiming a goal back was when Alessandro Trepasso beat the offside trap and fired on goal. Allen spilled his initial effort but dived on the loose ball before anymore could be made of it. However the visitors hopes of consolation were dealt another blow soon afterwards. Having made all five substitutions in the first 15 minutes of the second half when Eric Durnell went down with what looked to be a serious injury the away side had no other replacements available and would have to see out nearly half an hour down to ten men.

With the visitors now posing very little danger Bury were content to see much of the match out maintaining possession and picking their moments to strike. Ruben Jerome had a couple of chances, one cross caught up in his feet meant McLaughlin could put in a save while another Jerome shot was deflected by McLaughlin and cleared by a defender before the loose ball could cross the line.

Bury’s substitutes looked to add another goal late on. Connor Pye firing a tame shot straight at the keeper while a Nicky Adams free kick caused havoc in a tired and overworked Litherland defence.

Eventually in the last minute of added time Bury grabbed a deserved seventh goal. A Nicky Adams cross was headed across goal by Byrne and Ruben Jerome got the goal he had been searching for knocking the ball into the goal from close range with what proved to be the very last touch of the match.