With victory in the FA Cup secured at the weekend it was back to the bread and butter of the league campaign on Tuesday evening. Mitch Allen continued his stint between the sticks for the Shakers while Ben Hockenhull made his debut in the heart of defence. Midfielder Cameron Fogerty returned to the starting lineup and Lewis Alessandra was preferred to Bryan Ly who had a spot on the bench.

Bury started the match brightly enjoying plenty of possession but could not find a way past an organised and resilient defence. A slick passing move on the right hand side between Rustam Stepans and Bebeto Gomes allowed the former to slip the ball to Alex Cherera but he could only offer a tame shot at the away goalkeeper.

Gaz Peet with the ball glued to his feet powered through a forest of South Liverpool players to feed the ball to Stepans but his shot was over the bar. Stepans was involved in another chance claiming a long ball forward from Lewis Earl before crossing into the South Liverpool box. The centre was claimed by goalkeeper Lucas Allan with Alessandra lurking.

Bury seemed to have the match in control until a bizarre moment threatened to upend proceedings. A South Liverpool player in possession trod on the ball and fell. Incredulously the referee awarded a free kick and even booked Gomes for the ‘foul’ when he wasn’t even standing particularly close to the man let alone impeding him.
From the free kick Reece Dwyer managed to place a free header onto Mitch Allen’s goalpost before the ball was scrambled away for a corner.

The home side would continue to push to find the opening goal, a Stepans pass found Alessandra but his diving header was placed just wide of goal while Peet found Ruben Jerome with a cross from the left but the Bury centre forward could only direct his header straight at Allan. Gradually however chances dried up and the Shakers struggled to find a way through.

Late in the half the already booked Bebeto Gomes walked a fine line with a couple of contentious moments and hard tackles. Perhaps frustrated by his earlier yellow card or targeted by the South Liverpool players it felt a risk to keep the Bury right back on for much longer and he was duly subbed at halftime.

Stepping in to replace him was Bryan Ly. Immediately from the restart he created a chance. Peet crossing into the box and perhaps one of the smallest players on the pitch, Ly won a header that brushed the roof of the net.

The addition of Ly also freed up the other Bury attackers Alessandra had back to back shots blocked in the box while the Heywood born forward set up Ly for a shot that hit the side netting.

The pressure that had been building finally told. Quick passing along the Bury front line from Alessandra to Ly and onto Jerome got the ball into the South Liverpool box. Jerome wasn’t able to take a shot but allowed the ball to roll onto the oncoming Cherera. The newly crowned player of the month for August got his September off to a perfect start with a rocket of a finish into the top corner of the net.

Cherera then turned provider soon afterwards, a superb diagonal ball found Stepans whose shot flashed across the face of goal.

The resurgent Bury then enjoyed a long series of corners each getting closer to a crucial second goal. Hockenhull nearly found a debut goal, he got a head to one Ly corner but directed it straight at the keeper. Ly then had an attempt of his own when his initial corner was partially cleared. A lofted effort from outside the area was tipped over the bar by Allan. The onslaught continued, Jerome had a header saved point blank by Allan while Hockenhull again had a chance but his low shot lacked power and finally the overworked Allan held onto an effort to give the visiting defence a break.

South Liverpool rang the changes with a number of attacking substitutions and started to see more of the ball. It was just as it seemed the away side might find a way back into the match that Bury stretched their lead. Winning the ball deep in his own half Bryan Ly sent a long ball forward to Stepans. Running down the right and unchallenged the Shakers winger curled a left footed shot to the far corner to double Bury’s advantage.

The home side could have furthered their lead, a one touch cross from Ly to Cherera just missed the connection while Stepans had a strong shot outside the box that was blocked by the busy Lucas Allan. The result in truth was never in doubt once the first goal was scored and Bury enjoyed another fine victory.