Rustam Stepans scored two and set up another as league leaders Bury swept aside bottom of the table Squires Gate 3-0 at Gigg Lane.

There were two changes to the Bury team. With Reece Kendall out of the back three Josh Gregory deputised in defence in a role he has covered before. In midfield, Nicky Adams was replaced by attacker Tyler James in a Bury line-up that looked much more aggressive than usual.

The hosts took the match to the visitors and had them on the back foot early. DJ Pedro headed a Rustam Stepans cross just wide of goal, while Tyler James attempted a shot from a long way out with Gate goalkeeper Nathan Pennington off his line. His effort, however, was wayward.

The Shakers continued to press; Lewis Byrne fed the ball to Pedro but his shot was deflected by a Squires Gate defender. Pedro, in turn, nearly set up Byrne to score. He outmuscled his marker chasing a long, hopeful ball and reached it before it ran out of play. He crossed to Byrne but the Bury number 10 was unable to get a shot off straight away. When he eventually tried his luck he flashed a left-footed effort into the side netting.

Bury were not to be denied for much longer. DJ Pedro headed on a long ball forward into the path of Stepans. Racing into the box the Bury winger opened the scoring, lifting the ball over the oncoming Pennington.

After the goal, the visitors had to come out and attack. Their relegation battle meant this match was just as vital as it was to the home side and began to put the Bury goal under some pressure. Former Prestwich Heys forward Jack Coop had already seen a goal quickly chalked off for offside earlier in the match and he proved to be Gate’s most dangerous target man. He slipped in behind the last defender to get to a pass but his shot was tame and directly at Mitch Allen in the Bury goal. Josh Gregory’s last-ditch tackle prevented Coop from having a second opportunity minutes later while a Ryan Riley free-kick hit the Bury wall and deflected out for a corner.

At the other end, the closest Bury came to doubling their advantage came when a Stepans free-kick was headed towards his own goal by Will Squires, Pennington forced into making a smart save from his own centre back. Just before half-time Lewis Byrne put in a cross to the far post that was too high for Tyler James, who saw the ball sail over his head, and too low for Bebeto Gomes who arrived late and volleyed the chance wide.

The Shakers went in at the break with a lead but not a large one. While the title race seems destined to run until the final day the Bury fans would certainly hope for an easier run in the meantime, especially against the bottom side. When the two sides last met on the opening day of the season Bury’s attacking prowess was hampered by a Squires Gate comeback in a 4-4 draw. With just a one-goal lead the Shakers couldn’t allow a repeat in one of their crucial last matches.

It took a while for Bury to get back into the swing of things in the second half. Squires Gate pressed their opponents hard to try and force a mistake but the Shakers managed to maintain possession. The best chance of the half came as Tyler James threaded the needle to send a through-ball pass to Stepans. His cross was met by Pedro who headed goalwards. Pennington produced a brilliant reflex save to palm the ball away and out for a corner.

From there, the Shakers got back into the groove. James had back-to-back shots, the first blocked by a defender, the second well saved by Pennington before Bury finally got their second goal.

Pennington initially made another excellent save to deny Pedro. The free ball was claimed by James who passed to substitute Bryan Ly. Ly’s cross back to Pedro was headed away by a Squires Gate defender but it fell perfectly to Stepans arriving from the far post to blast home his and Bury’s second of the afternoon.

The visitors had a muted response to this latest set back. Substitutions of their own brought energy to the Blackpool club but they ran into a brick wall of Bury defenders and despite their earnestness never troubled Shakers keeper Mitch Allen. The closest they came was Dean Ing clattering into the Bury stopper at a cross but Allen held onto the ball he had claimed in the air.

With minutes to go Bury made the match safe. Nicky Adams played the ball forward to Stepans. The Bury winger seemed to flinch from a twinge in his leg but before falling did enough to loft the ball out to the far post where Bryan Ly was waiting to volley home the third goal of the match. Stepans would be substituted but promisingly walked off under his own power.

There might have been a further goal as Bury looked to boost the all-important goal difference. Adams again the provider saw Connor Pye on the wing and sent a long pass his way. Pye fired the ball well enough but his rasping drive fizzed past the far post.

The win took Bury to one hundred points for the season, becoming the first Bury side ever to break the century mark. The Shakers will be well aware, however that this feat alone is not enough. With three matches left the wins must keep coming if the team is to enjoy the success their efforts deserve.